Area equivalent index for horticultural crops index on agroecological based intercropping system

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance of Italian type squash and cabbage
intercropping. Were observed productivity and Area Index Equivalency (IEA). The experiment
was conducted from May to November 2015. The design was randomized blocks with six treatments
and six repetitions, totaling 36 installments. The treatments were: single squash with
weed, single squash without weeding, single cabbage with weeding, single cabbage without
weeding, squash + cabbage with weeding, squash + cabbage without weeding. For squash
higher productivity was observed in the arrangement in consortium with cabbage without weeding,
with 3.27 kg of fruit per plant did not differ statistically from the other treatments. For the
cabbage crop the best performance was obtained in monoculture without weeding (2.23 kg
per plant). The Area Index Equivalency (IEA) was greater than 1 in both intercropping arrangements,
indicating efficiency in land use.