Combining species in agroecosystems can reduce non-productive loss of water and enhance total uptake by plants, resulting in increased biomass production. One danger associated with the mixing of species is competition for water. Unacceptable loss of crop yield can occur if trees deprive a crop of water. To succeed in water-limited environments, therefore, water use by trees and crops should be complementary: uptake by trees and crops should be from spatially discrete sources or should occur at discrete times.
Publication year
2004
Authors
Smith M; Burgess S S O; Suprayogo D; Widianto; Lusiana, B.
Language
English
Keywords
water, roots, agroecosystems
Geographic
Indonesia
