lntorcropping in coffee plantatio

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted during 1975 to 1979 using young and mature pruned coffee plants. The study intended a more rational growing of crop species interrow with coffee plants. In the young coffee plants experiment the following crop species were used: cotton 'IAC-13-1' (3, 2,2). rice 'IAC-25' (4,33), dry beans 'Carioca' (4,3,3), corn 'HMD-7974' (2,2, 1) and soybean 'Paraná' (4, 3, 3) and in the pruned mature coffee plants experiment the species used were: rice 'IAC-1246' (5, 3, 3, 3), rice 'IAC-Batatais' (5, 3. 3. 3), dry beans 'Carioca' (5, 3, 3, 3), dry beans 'Moruna' (5, 3, 3, 3), corn 'Cargill-111' (2, 1, 1, 1), corn 'Piranão' 12, 1, 1, 1), soybeans 'Paraná' (5, 3,3,3) and soybeans 'Viçoja' (5,3,3,3). The number of rows of crop species intercropped with coffee tree in the first, second, third and fourth years are respectively pointed out in the parenthesis. The taller crops like corn and mainly cotton were those which most affected the development and production of the coffee plants. The degree of competition between intercropped species and coffee plants was shown in their production as follows: rice <dry beans < soybeans < corn <cotton, suggesting shat cotton may not be planted intercropped with young coffee plants. Large quantities of nutrients were removed by the intercropped species residues contributing this way for soil degradation, although any king of nutritional problem was detected by chemical analysis in the coffee plants during the work.