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Modelling resource competition and its mitigation at the crop-soil-hedge interface using WaNuLCAS

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Abstract

Agroforestry systems have a large potential to increase systems’ productivity and provide soil conservation in hilly terrain but comprise complex interactions at the crop-soil-tree interface. Modelling can be an operational approach to unravel the later. We used the spatially explicit, dynamic Water Nutrient and Light Capture in Agroforestry Systems model to (i) predict maize above ground biomass (AGB) and interactions at the crop-soil-hedge interface, (ii) improve our understanding of trees’ impact on crops in alley cropping, and (iii) identify mitigation strategies. A 2-year-data set from a soil conservation experiment in Western Thailand with maize farmers’ practice (monocropping, tillage), maize-chili-hedgerow intercropping (±fertilization; minimum tillage) was used as model input. Model validation showed satisfactory results for maize AGB (R2 = 0.76, root mean square error = 4.2, model efficiency = 0.69). Simulations revealed nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), rather than light and water, as main limiting factors at the crop-soil-hedge interface reducing maize AGB in rows close to hedgerows. Growth limitation by P was stronger than that of N while light competition was alleviated by four to six hedgerow prunings already. WaNuLCAS simulations clearly indicated that small-targeted additional N and P dressings to maize in rows close to hedges helped overcoming nutrient competition. Such strategic management options can be done for local farmers’ and hence, foster adaptation of soil conservation techniques for sustainable crop production in future.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank KU Leuven for funding field research under the project OT/07/045, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad for providing a fellowship to 1st author’s PhD studies in Germany. We also thank Ni’matul Khasanah from the World Agroforestry Center, Regional Office Southest Asia in Bogor, Indonesia for her valuable support in WaNuLCAS implementation. Finally, we would like to thank colleagues of Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Ms. Sireetorn Siriwong and Mr. Channarong, for their support during field experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Hohenheim, Institute of Plant Production and Agroecology in the Tropics and Subtropics, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany

    Khalid Hussain, Chalermchart Wongleecharoen, Thomas Hilger & Georg Cadisch

  2. Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

    Khalid Hussain & Ashfaq Ahmad

  3. Department of Soil Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Thanuchai Kongkaew

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  1. Khalid Hussain
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  2. Chalermchart Wongleecharoen
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  3. Thomas Hilger
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  4. Ashfaq Ahmad
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  5. Thanuchai Kongkaew
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  6. Georg Cadisch
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Hilger.

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Thanuchai Kongkaew—Deceased February 16th, 2012.

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Hussain, K., Wongleecharoen, C., Hilger, T. et al. Modelling resource competition and its mitigation at the crop-soil-hedge interface using WaNuLCAS. Agroforest Syst 90, 1025–1044 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-015-9881-z

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