Title:	Optimizing spatial arrangements and planting schedules for cassava-watermelon intercropping in the Amazon Savannah.
Authors:	SILVA, E. S. MEDEIROS, R. D. de ALBUQUERQUE, J. de A. A. de MONTEIRO NETO, J. L. L. AZEEZ, M. O. ALVES, A. B. ALVES, J. M. A MELO, V, F. SOARES, M. B. B. FINOTO, E. L.
Affiliation:	EDGLEY SOARES SILVA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE RORAIMA; ROBERTO DANTAS DE MEDEIROS, CPAF-RR; JOSÉ DE ANCHIETA ALVES DE ALBUQUERQUE, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE RORAIMA; JOÃO LUIZ LOPES MONTEIRO NETO, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE RORAIMA; MUSIBAU OYELEKE AZEEZ, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE RORAIMA; ADMAR BEZERRA ALVES, CPAF-RR; JOSÉ MARIA ARCANJO ALVES, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE RORAIMA; VALDINAR FERREIRA MELO, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE RORAIMA; MARIA BEATRIZ BERNADES SOARES, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE RORAIMA; EVERTON LUIS FINOTO, AGÊNCIA PAULISTA DE TECNOLOGIA DOS AGRONEGÓCIOS.
Date Issued:	2025
Citation:	Australian Journal of Crop Science, v. 19, n. 08, p. 887-894, 2025.
Description:	The intercropping system increases the productive potential of crops and improves land use efficiency. However, it is necessary to arrange the plants so that the spatial distribution and planting time are as favorable as possible. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance of the intercropping of cassava with watermelon in different spatial arrangements and planting time. The experiment was conducted from December 2020 to August 2021 in a typical Amazonian savannah area, and the soil of the experimental area is classified as Dystrophic Yellow Latosol. The experimental design was randomized blocks, arranged in a split-plot scheme, with four replications. Four cassava planting times were tested in the plots: 0, 10, 20 and 30 days after watermelon sowing, and five arrangements were tested in the subplots; Cassava and watermelon were planted in various arrangements, including single and double rows, on the same or opposite sides of each other: I) cassava planted in a single row (4.0 m x 1.0 m), on the same side of the watermelon sowing furrow; II) cassava planted in a single row (3.5 x 1.0 m), on the opposite side of the watermelon sowing furrow; III) cassava planted in double rows (3.5 x 1.0 x 0.5 m), on both sides of the watermelon sowing furrow, IV) cassava planted in single rows, in double rows (3.5 x 1.0 x 0.5 m), on both sides of the furrow and V) watermelon sown in single rows (4.0 m x 1.0 m). The irrigation was carried out using furrows 40.0 m in length, with a slope of 1.0% and an average flow rate of 0.5 L s⁻¹. The spatial arrangements and planting times did not interfere with the watermelon crop and were capable of maintaining high productive yield and desirable fruit quality. Under the experimental conditions, watermelon recorded an average productivity among the treatments corresponding to 47,735.78 kg ha-1. This value was 53.82% and 13.96% higher than the productivities of Roraima and Brazil, respectively. As for the cassava productivity, although the variations were statistically similar, we strongly recommend planting in a single row on the same side of the watermelon sowing furrow, with which we obtained a productivity of approximately 18,000 kg ha-1.
NAL Thesaurus:	Growing season
Keywords:	Citrullus lanatus L Manihot esculenta Crantz Single and double rows
ISSN:	1835-2707
Type of Material:	Artigo de periódico
Access:	openAccess
Appears in Collections:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CPAF-RR)