Year: 2023 | Month: June | Volume 10 | Issue 1

Upholding Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Yield and Profitability while Maintaining Soil Fertility Under Intercropping with Sunn Hemp and Mineral Fertilizer Application

Luciana R. Chappa Jayne Mugwe Harun H. Gitari Sagar Maitra
DOI:10.30954/2347-9655.01.2023.4

Abstract :

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of Tanzania’s high-potential cash crops. Nonetheless, nutrient depletion, especially nitrogen (N), is limiting its productivity. The study was conducted in the semiarid -Dodoma region in Tanzania where it adopted a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six treatments each replicated four times. These treatments were T1; Control (sunflower pure stand) without mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer, T2; Sunflower-Sunn hemp intercrop under 1:1 row ratio without fertilizer, T3; Sunflower-Sunn hemp intercrop under 1:1 row ratio with fertilizer, T4; Sunflower-Sunn hemp intercrop under 2:1 row ratio without fertilizer, T5; Sunflower-Sunn hemp intercrop under 2:1 row ratio with fertilizer and T6; Sunflower pure stand with fertilizer. Data that were collected were sunflower growth, and yield parameters, economic returns (gross income, net income, benefit-cost ratio-BCR), and
soil chemical properties. Regardless of the site, T6 and T3 showed the best performance based on the sunflower growth and yield. For instance, at Kongwa the sunflower leaf area was highest in T3 (285 cm2) and T6 (282 cm2) with T4 having the least value of 149 cm2. Economically, Kongwa outperformed Bahi. Specifically, based on treatments, T3 had the highest gross income both at Kongwa (US$ 3412 ha-1) and Bahi (US$ 1756 ha-1). This translated into respective net income and BCR of US$ 1639 and 698, and 7.50
and 3.20. Except for soil pH, the other chemical soil properties tended to increase significantly (p ≤ 0.05) under all the treatments containing integrated approaches like Sunn hemp and N fertilizer application relative to the sunflower pure stand. This study’s findings will help rural poor farmers achieve their nutritional, social, and economic needs, hence reducing poverty, and increasing food security.

Highlights

  • Sunflower is considered a high-potential cash crop in Tanzania, However, Nutrient depletion, particularly nitrogen (N), is hindering its productivity.
  • The study aimed at improving soil properties, sunflower production, and economic returns using integrated approaches, such as Sunflower-Sunn hemp intercropping and the use of intercropping with mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer.
  • The study revealed that sunflower can achieve optimal growth, yield, and economic returns when intercropped with legumes like Sunn hemp and supplemented with nitrogenous fertilizer.


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