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Tree-crop Integration with High-value Horticultural Crops, St. Croix, Virgin Islands Project Team M.C. Palada, Principal Investigator, University of Virgin Islands, St. Croix, Virgin Islands Rationale/Objectives Intercropping high-value horticultural crops with tree crops is an economically attractive, but little studied, agroforestry option in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The major objectives are to: 1) evaluate the influence of medicinal trees on resource use, soil fertility and yield of intercropped specialty vegetables, herbs, medicinal plants, fruits and spices; 2) investigate the dynamics of intercropping medicinal trees with fruit and vegetable crops with regard to pest population; pesticide inputs, soil moisture and evapotranspiration; and 3) evaluate the economic benefits of intercropping medicinal trees with high value crops. Work done Final harvest and data analysis was completed from field trial involving hedgerow intercropping of hot peppers with Morinda (Morinda citrifolia L). This study was conducted to evaluate growth and yield performance of hot pepper (Capsicum chinense L.) under hedgerow intercropping with Morinda, a popular medicinal tree in the Virgin Islands. Morinda hedgerows were established at 5-m spacing forming 5-m wide alley between hedgerows. One year after hedgerow establishment, seedlings of hot pepper cultivar ‘West Indies Red’ were transplanted in alleys at 1 m row spacing and 0.60 m plant spacing within rows. Similar spacing was used for plots planted with monoculture hot pepper (no hedgerows). The experiment was designed using a randomized block design with four replications. The Morinda hedgerows were not pruned during the cropping year. Data were collected on hot pepper height, number and weight of marketable fruits. Results Hedgerow plant height and canopy width were also determined at 3-month interval. Treatment effect of hedgerow on growth and yield of hot pepper was compared with monoculture crop. Analysis of data indicated that during the early establishment of hedgerows, plant height and marketable yield were not significantly (P>0.05) reduced. Differences in height and yield by rows relative to distance from hedgerows were not significant (P>0.05). However, average yield under hedgerow intercropping was slightly lower than monoculture (no hedgerow) crop. This study would indicate that during the early stage of hedgerow establishment, tree-crop competition is not critical in reducing growth and yield of hot pepper. Long term effects of hedgerows on productivity of intercrops will be further investigated. Due to high rainfall during most part of 2003, second season trials for hedgerow intercropping medicinal and aromatic plants with Moringa (Moringa oleifera) were not established, however, Moringa hedgerows were maintained by periodic pruning and biomass production was determined. Total dry matter production from five prunings over a 14-month period averaged 58.6 kg/tree, while total leaf dry matter yield was 4.87 kg/tree. Highest dry matter yield was obtained from the fourth and fifth prunings. Planned for 2004-2005 We will maintain both hedgerows of Moringa and Morinda and plant second crops of medicinal and aromatic plants in Moringa alleys and hot peppers on Morinda alleys so that we will have two seasons of data when the project will terminate in September 2004. Data collection will focus on soil and light parameters as influenced by tree-crop interaction. Economic analysis of data will be performed. A field day and workshop will be conducted during the middle of the cropping season. Publication/Outputs Refereed: Palada, M.C., B.N. Becker, J.M. Mitchell and P.K.R. Nair. 2003. Cultivation of medicinal plants in alley cropping system with Moringa oleifera in the Virgin Islands. Pp. 60-76 In: Y.N. Clement and C.E. Seaforth (eds.). Advancing Caribbean Herbs in the 21st Century, Proc. 6th International Workshop on Herbal Medicine in the Caribbean. June 27-29, 2003, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. Rao, M.R., M.C. Palada and B.N. Becker. 2004. Medicinal and aromatic plants in agroforestry systems. Agroforestry Systems 61-62 (in press). Non-refereed: Palada, M.C., B.N. Becker and J.M. Mitchell. 2004. Cultivation of medicinal plants in alley cropping system with Moringa oleifera in the Virgin Islands. VI Agriculture and Food Fair Bulletin 18:34-39.
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