An investigation was carried out in the semi- desert region of northern Sudan, during 2000, to study the influence of different micrometeorological parameters on growth and yield of sesame under alley cropping system....An investigation was carried out in the semi- desert region of northern Sudan, during 2000, to study the influence of different micrometeorological parameters on growth and yield of sesame under alley cropping system. Sesame, cv. Kenana-2, was grown in 6-m wide alleys formed by 3 year old Acacia ampliceps and Acacia stenophylla. Air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, solar energy and shade behaviour were measured throughout the growing season. Irrigation was measured by water meter and soil moisture by gravimetric sampling at depths of 15, 30, 45 and 60 cm, in alley cropping and control plots. Sesame was evaluated for growth and yield performance in southern, central and northern parts of each alley. The results showed substantial reduction in wind runs, solar radiation and air temperature, while relative humidity was increased under alley conditions. Soil moisture content, especially in the upper 045 cm soil depth, was much higher in alley cropped plots than in the control plots. A. stenophylla resulted in the highest saving of irrigation water and considerably increased （40%） sesame seed yield. In contrast, sesame seed yield was reduced by 46% under A. ampliceps-alley cropping. Competition for light and water were highly responsible for variation in sesame seed yield in the different zones of the alley. A. stenophylla tree is, therefore, recommended in an alley cropping system in the semi-desert region of northern Sudan for its superiority in optimizing radiation and saving of irrigation water.展开更多
文摘An investigation was carried out in the semi- desert region of northern Sudan, during 2000, to study the influence of different micrometeorological parameters on growth and yield of sesame under alley cropping system. Sesame, cv. Kenana-2, was grown in 6-m wide alleys formed by 3 year old Acacia ampliceps and Acacia stenophylla. Air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, solar energy and shade behaviour were measured throughout the growing season. Irrigation was measured by water meter and soil moisture by gravimetric sampling at depths of 15, 30, 45 and 60 cm, in alley cropping and control plots. Sesame was evaluated for growth and yield performance in southern, central and northern parts of each alley. The results showed substantial reduction in wind runs, solar radiation and air temperature, while relative humidity was increased under alley conditions. Soil moisture content, especially in the upper 045 cm soil depth, was much higher in alley cropped plots than in the control plots. A. stenophylla resulted in the highest saving of irrigation water and considerably increased （40%） sesame seed yield. In contrast, sesame seed yield was reduced by 46% under A. ampliceps-alley cropping. Competition for light and water were highly responsible for variation in sesame seed yield in the different zones of the alley. A. stenophylla tree is, therefore, recommended in an alley cropping system in the semi-desert region of northern Sudan for its superiority in optimizing radiation and saving of irrigation water.
