A cauliflower-sweet corn intercropping system in high-temperature conditions

Abstract

The cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var botrytis L.) has received increased interest due to its high price and high demand. The study aimed to assess the effect of planting time and plant spacing on the growth and yield of cauliflower plants intercropped with sweet corn under high-temperature conditions in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. The main plot consisted of three different sweet corn planting times: four weeks before cauliflower planting, two weeks before caulif lower planting and simultaneous planting with caulif lower. In the sub-plots three different plant spacing distances were used for sweet corn: J1 = 60 cm, J2 = 30 cm and J3 = 20 cm. Variables analyzed in this study were air temperature, leaf area, plant dry weight, curd weight, curd diameter and curd yield. Results showed that planting sweet corn two weeks before transplanting the cauliflower and the J1 distance gave an air temperature, in the cauliflower plant canopy, suitable for leaf area growth and an increase in both plant dry weight and cauliflower curd yield (4.18 and 5.07 t · ha-1).