About the Role of Turbulence in an Intercropping System

Aims: It was analysed the role of turbulence in the interaction between the atmosphere and two types of cropping systems, a corn-soy intercrop and soybean monocrop.

Study Design: Experimental.

Place and Duration of Study: The crop experiment was performed between October 2010 and April 2011 at the Balcarce Integrated Research Unit - Agricultural Experiment Station of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA in Spanish) and the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the National University of Mar del Plata (UNMdP in Spanish), while the meteorological experiment was performed during January 2011.

Methodology: The crop experiment involved two spatial arrangements: a corn-soybean intercrop and a soybean monocrop. For two days intensive measurements of the three components of air velocity were obtained with two three-dimensional wind-monitors (YOUNG GILL UVW 27005). One wind monitor was installed within the intercrop and the other in the soy monocrop arrangement. Micrometeorological data were analysed using the quadrant-hole methodology.

Results: Turbulence intensity inside the intercrop canopy results greater than in corn and soybean monocrop canopies. Air ejections associated to turbulence interaction with the canopy occurred more frequently than sweeps. However, sweeps were responsible for 57-60% of momentum flux, while ejections were responsible for only 27 to 30%. Also, around 50% of momentum was transported by eddies whose size is associated with a quadrant hole greater than 5 on both types of crops.

Conclusion: The interaction of turbulent eddies with the intercrop-canopy could benefit its environmental inner conditions.