Intercropping of vegetables to control pests along the Mekong river bank
Type: Technologies
Creation: 2017-04-23 18:10 Updated: 2019-09-04 10:48
Compilers: Nary Lay
Reviewers: Alexandra Gavilano, Sophea Tim, SO Than, Nicole Harari
Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment
- Country: Cambodia
- Region/ State/ Province: Ta Mau Leu village, Kampong Kor Commune, Preaek Prasab District, Kratie Province
- Further specification of location (e.g. municipality, town, etc.), if relevant: Land is along Mekong River
- Map: View Map
Description of the SLM Technology
Short description of the Technology
Cropping by setting up alternative rows of different crops: lettuce, pak choi, escarole, choy sum and morning glory for a reduction in damage from insects. This technique incorporates the spreading of lime in advance for control of soil pests, and plant derived pesticide is applied during the cultivation period. This technique is applied on the Mekong river bank in Kratie province.
Detailed description of the Technology
Intercropping is a technique of cropping in which two or more crops are grown in different alternate rows at the same time (Pawan et al., 2012). The crops grown by the farmers are lettuce, pak choi, choy sum, escarole and morning glory. This technique was applied using 1080 square meters of land along the Mekong's river bank in Kratie province. In applying this technique, the farmer prepared the land, after which he prepared the rows across the slope of the river bank. Lettuce was planted in the first row, then pak choi, choy sum, escarole, and then morning glory, with the crop sequence being repeated in the following rows. Intercropping helps to reduce the damage from insects. Lettuce is a crop that insects dislike because of its bitter taste. Under the intercropping practice with the vegetables that insects dislike, the level of insect damage is reduced because, when facing such repellent crops, the insects normally disappear rather than go to the next row, even though it might be a crop they like.
Crops are easily damaged by insects when grown as a single species that insects like. In intercropping, even if the insects damage one crop, the other crops often survive without insect damage. To apply this technology more effectively, farmer used botanical pesticide that was produced by the farmer himself based on plant ingredients such as neem bark, boraphed, strychnine plant, derris, etc. Such natural pesticide ingredients are crushed and soaked in water for 15 days, after which l liter is mixed with 15 liters of water(Yang et al., 2006). The solution is sprayed on the crops on a daily basis when insects are present.
Soil preparation: The soil is ploughed and dried for 7 to 8 days, then aligned into rows with lime being applied for a period of 6 days to disperse the bad bacteria in the soil. Nursery preparation of escarole, pak choi and choy sum takes about 20 days before transplanting (morning glory was planted by direct seeding). Lettuce is only 10 days old when it is transplanted. Lettuce can be harvested within 30 days after transplanting, while morning glory is grown for about 38 days before being harvested. The farmer used organic fertilizer and cow manure to improve the soil fertility. The farmer makes the rows across the slope of the river to prevent soil erosion during heavy rainfall. To provide protection from the potential adverse effects of direct sunlight and rain, the farmer used a temporary 2 meters high net roof supported by bamboo poles, to provide cover. A net fence was also constructed around the crop area to provide protection from animals such as dogs and chickens. In relation to produce price, pak choi returned 3.500 to 4.000 riel per kilogram, morning glory 2.000 riels per kilogram, choy sum 2.000 to 3.000 riel per kilogram, escarole 3.000 to 3.500 riel per kilogram and lettuce 4.000 riel per kilogram.
Photos of the Technology
- 📍 Ta Mau Leu village, Kampong Kor Commune, Preaek Prasab District, Kratie Province
- 📷 Mr. Kim Soben
- 📍 Ta Mau Leu village, Kampong Kor Commune, Preaek Prasab District, Kratie Province
- 📷 Mr. Kim Soben
- 📍 Ta Mau Leu village, Kampong Kor Commune, Preaek Prasab District, Kratie Province
- 📷 Mr. Kim Soben