Manual tillage is usually practiced in small-scale banana-beans intercropping systems in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). This study tested the hypothesis that manual tillage in banana-beans intercropping systems may increase bean yield. The study was carried out at INERA Mulungu Research Station in the Eastern DR Congo, from February 2014 to May 2017. Four treatments with repetitions were applied under a completed randomized blocs design. Tillage with hand hoe beans mulch exportation (T0 or common local system); no Tillage beans self-mulch (T1), Tillage with hand hoe beans self-mulch (T2), and no Tillage beans mulch exportation (T3). Bean yield and banana leaf area index (LAI) were assessed during three bean growing seasons. The relationship between bean yield and banana LAI was computed using a boundary line analysis approach. Bean yield ranged between 187 and 394 kg·ha-1 with higher values during the first two seasons. Treatments did not significantly affect bean yield, but the overall means of bean yield decreased in the order of T0 (324.8 kg·ha-1) > T1 (294.4 kg·ha-1) > T2 (291.2 kg·ha-1) > T3 (273.2 kg·ha-1). Banana LAI ranged from 0.96 to 1.56, and treatments were not significantly different. The relationship between banana LAI, and bean yield shows a cut-off at LAI equals to 1.18, above it bean yield decreases sharply. The specific effects of tillage (T0 versus T2) and soil cover (T1 versus T3) show only a slight increase in bean yield, 34 kg·ha-1 and 21 kg·ha-1 respectively. Manual tillage did not significantly improve bean yield, farmers in the study area are encouraged to use no-till with self-mulch in banana-beans intercropping systems. However, to improve beans’ performance, banana LAI should be below 1.18.
Cite this paper
Muliele, T. M. (2023). No-Till Systems: Why Not for Bush Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. HM 21-7) Intercropped with the East African Highland Banana?. Open Access Library Journal, 10, e337. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1110337.
Akyempong, E., Hitimana, E. and Munyemana, T. (1999) Multistrata Agroforestry with Beans, Bananas and Grevillea robusta in the Highlands of Burundi. Experimental Agriculture, 35, 357-369. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479799003063
Muliele Muku, T. (2014) Influence du travail et de la couverture du sol sur les propriétés physiques du sol et le système racinaire du bananier de hautes altitudes de la Région des Grands Lacs d’Afrique (Sud-Kivu en RD Congo, Rwanda et Burundi). Université Catholique de Louvain, Thèse de Doctorat, 341.
Ocimati, W., Ntamwira, J., Groot, J.C.G., Taulya, T., Tittonell, P., Dheda, B., Van Asten, P., Vanlauwe, B., Ruhigwa, B. and Blomme, G. (2019) Banana Leaf Pruning to Facilitate Annual Legume Intercropping as an Intensification Strategy in the East African Highlands. European Journal or Agronomy, 110, Article ID: 125923.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2019.125923
Dowiya, N.B., Rweyemamu, C.L. and Maerere, A.P. (2009) Banana (Musa spp. Colla) Cropping Systems, Production Constraints and Cultivar Preferences in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 4, 341-356.
Ntamwira, J., Pypers, P., van Asten, P., Vanlauwe, B., Ruhigwa, B., Lepoint, P., Dhed’a, B., Monde, T., Kamira, M. and Blomme, G. (2014) Effect of Banana Leaf Pruning on Banana and Legume Yield under Intercropping in Farmers’ Fields in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Journal of Horticulture and Forestry, 6, 72-80. https://doi.org/10.5897/JHF2014.0360
Bizimana, S. (2018) L’Agriculture de Conservation peut-elle améliorer la fertilité des sols et la productivité des systèmes bananiers en Région des Grands Lacs? Université catholique de Louvain, Belgique.
Wortmann, C.S., Sengooba, T. and Kyamanywa, S. (1992) Banana and Bean Intercropping: Factors Affecting Bean Yield and Land Use Efficiency. Experimental Agriculture, 28, 287-294. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479700019888
Muliele, M.T., Bielders, C. and van Asten, P.J.A. (2015) Short- and Medium-Term Impact of Manual Tillage and No-Tillage with Mulching on Banana Roots and Yields in Banana-Bean Intercropping Systems in the East African Highlands. Field Crops Research, 171, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2014.10.015
Muliele, M.T. (2016) Effet à court terme du non labour avec paillage sur le rendement du haricot nain à Mulungu, à l’Est de la RD Congo. International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, 18, 154-159.
Schlegel, A.J., Assefa, Y., Haag, L.A., Thompson, C.R. and Stone, L.R. (2018) Long-Term Tillage on Yield and Water Use of Grain Sorghum and Winter Wheat. Agronomy Journal, 110, 269-280. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2017.02.0104
Aikins, S., Afuakwa, J. and Owusu-Akuoko, O. (2012) Effect of Four Different Tillage Practices on Maize Performance under Rainfed Conditions. Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America, 3, 25-30.
https://doi.org/10.5251/abjna.2012.3.1.25.30
Peel, M.C., Finlayson, B.L. and McMahon, T.A. (2007) Updated World Map of the Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 11, 1633-1644. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007
Kumar, N., Nalina, L. and Soorianathasundharam, K. (2002) Un nouveau facteur pour estimer la surface foliaire totale chez le bananier. Info Musa, 11, 42-43.
Webb, R.A. (1972) Use of the Boundary Line in the Analysis of Biological Data. Journal of Horticultural Science, 47, 309-319.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00221589.1972.11514472
Suchartgul, S., Maneepong, S. and Issarakrisila, M. (2012) Establishment of Standard Values for Nutritional Diagnosis in Soil and Leaves of Immature Rubber Tree. Rubber Thai Journal, 1, 19-31.
Nyombi, K., van Asten, P.J.A., Leffelaar, P.A., Corbeels, M., Kaizzi, C.K. and Giller K.E. (2009) Allometric Growth Relationships of East Africa Highland Bananas (Musa AAA-EAHB) cv. Kisansa and Mbwazirume. Annals of Applied Biology, 155, 403-418. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7348.2009.00353.x
Ntamwira, J., Pypers, P., van Asten, P., Vanlauwe, B., Ndungo, V., Badesire, A., Lepoint, P. and Blomme, G. (2012) Effect of Banana Leaf Pruning on Banana and Bean Yield in an Intercropping System in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The African Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology, 7, 32-35.
Ntamwira, J., Pypers, P., van Asten, P., Vanlauwe, B., Ruhigwa, B., Lepointe, P. and Bomme, G. (2013) Effect of Leaf Pruning of Banana on Legume Yield in Banana-Legume Intercropping Systems in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. In: Blomme, G., van Asten, P. and Vanlauwe, B., Eds., Banana Systems in the Humid Highlands of Sub-Saharan Africa: Enhancing Resilience and Productivity, CABI, Wallingford, 158-165. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781780642314.0158
