Effect of Fertilization in Companion Cropping Systems of Andean Fruit Trees in the Municipality of Ipiales

Companion cropping offers a potential solution to the challenges of sustainable agriculture, such as optimizing resource use and reducing reliance on chemical inputs. The problem of achieving higher yields while maintaining environmental health remains critical. This practice enhances natural resour...

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Main Authors: Ovidio Javier Moran-Chamorro, Danita Andrade-Díaz, Juan Sebastian Chirivi-Salomon, Pedro Alexander Velasquez-Vasconez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Horticulturae
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/10/1107
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author Ovidio Javier Moran-Chamorro
Danita Andrade-Díaz
Juan Sebastian Chirivi-Salomon
Pedro Alexander Velasquez-Vasconez
author_facet Ovidio Javier Moran-Chamorro
Danita Andrade-Díaz
Juan Sebastian Chirivi-Salomon
Pedro Alexander Velasquez-Vasconez
author_sort Ovidio Javier Moran-Chamorro
collection DOAJ
description Companion cropping offers a potential solution to the challenges of sustainable agriculture, such as optimizing resource use and reducing reliance on chemical inputs. The problem of achieving higher yields while maintaining environmental health remains critical. This practice enhances natural resource conservation, improves fertilization, and optimizes nutrient cycling through the balanced use of chemical and organic sources. Studies, such as those involving tree tomato and Hass avocado, have demonstrated a significant yield increase compared to monocultures, underscoring the viability of this practice. In addition to their environmental benefits, companion crops provide economic advantages by allowing producers to harvest multiple products simultaneously, thereby strengthening food security and the rural economy. This study evaluated three levels of fertilization and interactions between fruit trees at different altitudes, observing differential behavior in the variables evaluated. The combination of cape gooseberry and blackberry showed significantly positive results, with more leaves and fewer pests, demonstrating the benefits of companion plants. A trend towards the combined use of chemical and organic fertilizers was observed, a potential strategy to reduce costs and improve crop growth. The results indicated that the UF system (<i>P. peruviana</i> and <i>P. vulgaris</i>) had the highest plant height, while TF (tree tomato and bean) showed the best stem perimeter development. The incidence of pests was also significant, with <i>Trialeurodes vaporarioum</i> being most prevalent in the <i>P. peruviana</i> companion. These findings support companion cropping as a viable and promising strategy for more efficient and sustainable agriculture, offering both environmental and economic benefits.
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spelling doaj-art-b53ba1cf2d92452baab489ac2928748a2025-08-20T02:11:09ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242024-10-011010110710.3390/horticulturae10101107Effect of Fertilization in Companion Cropping Systems of Andean Fruit Trees in the Municipality of IpialesOvidio Javier Moran-Chamorro0Danita Andrade-Díaz1Juan Sebastian Chirivi-Salomon2Pedro Alexander Velasquez-Vasconez3Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Nariño, Pasto 520001, ColombiaEscuela de Ciencias Agrícolas, Pecuarias y del Medio Ambiente, Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia, Bogota 111511, ColombiaEscuela de Ciencias Agrícolas, Pecuarias y del Medio Ambiente, Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia, Bogota 111511, ColombiaEscuela de Ciencias Básicas, Tecnología e Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia, Pasto 520001, ColombiaCompanion cropping offers a potential solution to the challenges of sustainable agriculture, such as optimizing resource use and reducing reliance on chemical inputs. The problem of achieving higher yields while maintaining environmental health remains critical. This practice enhances natural resource conservation, improves fertilization, and optimizes nutrient cycling through the balanced use of chemical and organic sources. Studies, such as those involving tree tomato and Hass avocado, have demonstrated a significant yield increase compared to monocultures, underscoring the viability of this practice. In addition to their environmental benefits, companion crops provide economic advantages by allowing producers to harvest multiple products simultaneously, thereby strengthening food security and the rural economy. This study evaluated three levels of fertilization and interactions between fruit trees at different altitudes, observing differential behavior in the variables evaluated. The combination of cape gooseberry and blackberry showed significantly positive results, with more leaves and fewer pests, demonstrating the benefits of companion plants. A trend towards the combined use of chemical and organic fertilizers was observed, a potential strategy to reduce costs and improve crop growth. The results indicated that the UF system (<i>P. peruviana</i> and <i>P. vulgaris</i>) had the highest plant height, while TF (tree tomato and bean) showed the best stem perimeter development. The incidence of pests was also significant, with <i>Trialeurodes vaporarioum</i> being most prevalent in the <i>P. peruviana</i> companion. These findings support companion cropping as a viable and promising strategy for more efficient and sustainable agriculture, offering both environmental and economic benefits.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/10/1107growthdevelopmentpest incidencedisease incidencetechnology transfer
spellingShingle Ovidio Javier Moran-Chamorro
Danita Andrade-Díaz
Juan Sebastian Chirivi-Salomon
Pedro Alexander Velasquez-Vasconez
Effect of Fertilization in Companion Cropping Systems of Andean Fruit Trees in the Municipality of Ipiales
Horticulturae
growth
development
pest incidence
disease incidence
technology transfer
title Effect of Fertilization in Companion Cropping Systems of Andean Fruit Trees in the Municipality of Ipiales
title_full Effect of Fertilization in Companion Cropping Systems of Andean Fruit Trees in the Municipality of Ipiales
title_fullStr Effect of Fertilization in Companion Cropping Systems of Andean Fruit Trees in the Municipality of Ipiales
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Fertilization in Companion Cropping Systems of Andean Fruit Trees in the Municipality of Ipiales
title_short Effect of Fertilization in Companion Cropping Systems of Andean Fruit Trees in the Municipality of Ipiales
title_sort effect of fertilization in companion cropping systems of andean fruit trees in the municipality of ipiales
topic growth
development
pest incidence
disease incidence
technology transfer
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/10/1107
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