Intercropping. Multiple Goals in a Vegetable Production System. Rob Faux. Genuine Faux Farm Tripoli, IA

Transcription

1 Intercropping Multiple Goals in a Vegetable Production System Rob Faux Genuine Faux Farm Tripoli, IA The farmer in the red hat will tell you neat things today. I, the Sandman, have spoken.

2 Genuine Faux Farm present Cert Organic 2007-present Veg CSA Poultry Local Sales

3 Intercropping Intentional plant diversity in a growing system Strip Intercropping Row Intercropping Mixed Intercropping Relay Intercropping Cash vs Support Crops How do you grow garlic?

4 The Case for Intercropping Diverse biological systems are healthier (UM 12 - vegetation more productive if more species) Diverse crops manage risks (Thailand coconuts, cucumbers, coffee) Decreased inputs Natural pest control (Kenya maize with beans 9 pests decreased and 2 increased ) Decreased weed biomass (Jodha 79 canopy and competition benefits) Efficient Fertilizer Uptake (Rehman 06 root zone and peak development range) Improved Soil Health (Texas A&M 13 combine N fixer, canopy, allelopathic, pollinator & Maguguda 79 soil temp control) Attract Beneficial Organisms (Xerces) Improved Overall Production (papaya, sweet potato, okra, others of 6, 2 showed individual decrease but overall increase. ) Existing research for horticulture intercropping seems to be focused in Africa and Asia with respect to coconut, maize, millet and pea crops. Very limited current research.

5 So, Why aren t growers intercropping? Monocropping is easy Mechanization/labor issues Individual crop yield reduction Markets for added crop Timing Terminating failed crops ISU 09

6 Some Basics We Operate Under Plants repel/attract Plants interact (competition and facilitation) Even a little diversity can help (UC broccoli 09) Plants have peak development stages Some plants are spatially (in)compatible Crops require different management practices If we can figure out a monocrop system, we can figure out intercropping A field we want to be in is a successful field

7 Row Intercropping GFF Goal #1 No Pesticides

8 Strip, row, and mixed intercropping: sweet corn, pie pumpkins, zinnia, nasturtium, sunflowers (not shown)

9 GFF Goal #2 Bee Friendly to Pollinators

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11 Melon Production at GFF Significant production increase with 1/3 fewer melon plants Observed pollinators had size corresponding to flower type Some companion herbs/flowers are better transplanted

12 GFF Goal #3 Improve Fertility/Soil Health Legumes as a key companion

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14 cover crop in an intercrop system

15 Goal #4 Maximize Use of Space

16 Spatial compatibility

17 Goal #5 Disrupt Pest/Disease Patterns

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19 Potato/Bean SARE 2012 Shared Bed Separate Bed Beans Potatoes Potatoes Beans

20 June Potato/Bean Shared Bed

21 June Potato/Bean Separate Bed

22 July Potato/Bean Shared Bed

23 July Potato/Bean Separate Bed

24 Bean Harvest Comparisons Bean harvest results depended on variety of green bean. Pounds Pounds/ Seed Foot Pounds/ Row Foot Provider Shared Provider Separate Jade Shared Jade Separate Double row in non-tractor spacing not worth seed spent on Provider Double row in non-tractor well worth it for Jade Proximity to potatoes not an issue for either bean

25 Potato Harvest Comparison One variety seems unaffected Second may be impacted Potato digger stayed on track better in separate bed Able to hill potatoes in separate beds Potato size similar in both Bullwinkle the Potato Rio Grande Separate Rio Grande Shared Purple Majesty Separate 173 Purple Majesty Shared 182.6

26 Did it REALLY work?

27 Next Steps 1. Treat squash field just like melon field 2. Refine the pole bean, cucumber, pea, carrot field to aid in harvest and work in cover crop 3. Trial single side hilling in potato/bean field 4. Increase in row pollinator intercropping with zucchini/summer squash 5. Re-introduce mixed intercropping with longer term brassica

28 What? You re still talking? Let them ask some questions, farmer.

29 Intercropping Multiple Goals in a Vegetable Production System Rob Faux gff@genuinefauxfarm.com Genuine Faux Farm Tripoli, Iowa