Adlay (Coix Iacryma-jobi L.) and Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) intercropping and fertilization schemes as climate smart strategy for food and feed production

Abstract

Adlay is considered an alternate staple food crop in the Philippines while napier is a versatile multipurpose fodder crop. Effective intercropping and fertilization strategies for the production of these crops could help address the problems on food and feed supply. The objectives of the study were to 1) evaluate the growth and yield of adlay with napier at various fertilization scheme; 2) determine the appropriate intercropping and fertilization schemes for maximum adlay production; 3) appraise the efficiency of intercropping scheme; and 4) assess the profitability of intercropping adlay with napier at various fertilization scheme. The study was laid out in split-plot with three intercropping scheme (C1=Monocrop adlay, C2=Adlay with napier at 1:1 row ratio, and C3=Adlay with napier at 2:1 row ratio) and five fertilization schemes (F0=Unfertilized, F1=120kg ha-1 N inorganic fertilizer, F2=60kg ha-1 N inorganic fertilizer + 1t ha-1 chicken dung, F3=30kg ha-1 N inorganic fertilizer + 1.5t ha-1 chicken dung, and F4=2t ha-1 chicken dung). Fertilization scheme significantly affected the days to flowering and maturity, vegetative tillers, plant height, number of productive and unproductive tillers, panicle length, herbage and grain yields of adlay and also the tiller and herbage yield of napier as well as the land equivalent and area time equivalent ratios. Fertilization with pure inorganic fertilizer or with combinations of chicken dung had ROI of 1.31 to 1.44 per peso invested.