GROWTH AND CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT OF Agave potatorum Zucc. INTERCROPPED WITH CORN AND BEAN

Abstract

Growth of Agave potatorum Zucc. intercropped with corn (Zea mays L.) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was assessed in Huajuapan de León, Oaxaca. Three treatments were established: 1. Maguey in monoculture; 2. Maguey intercropped with corn; and 3. Maguey intercropped with bean. Every treatment was replicated six times. An experimental design of randomized complete blocks was used. One agave plant was one experimental unit. Monthly, from August 2011 to July 2012, number of new unfolded leaves and leaf area were recorded. These variables by month and accumulated month to month were analyzed. To the end of the study, increments in diameter, chlorophyll content in leaves and moisture in soil were evaluated. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and mean comparisons by Tukey’s test with P = 0.05. Monthly evaluation showed than in August 2011 the agaves intercropped with bean unfolded 42 and 12 % more leaves than agaves in monoculture and those intercropped with corn, respectively; in February 2102, agave plants unfolded 100 and 54 % more leaves than agaves intercropped with corn or under monoculture, respectively. Month to month accumulation showed that from October 2011 to July 2012, agaves intercropped with bean formed more leaves than agaves intercropped with corn, with a maximum difference of 28 % in May; from January to June 2012, it showed more leaf area, with a maximum difference of 49 % in May. Annual evaluation showed that agaves plants intercropped with bean unfolded 36 % more leaves than those in monoculture. Moisture of soil did not change significantly between treatments. It was concluded that agave mezcalero can grow more when intercropped with bean, and it grows less when intercropped with corn.