WHITE CABBAGE PRODUCTIVITY IN INTERCROPPING PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Productivity and growth of vegetables planted as intercrops were investigated in a three-year experiment (2007-2009) according to organic farming rules in the northeast of Slovenia. White cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba) as the main crop was planted together with intercrops: head lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata), bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), red beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. rubra), tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum), leek (Allium porrum), and celery (Apium graveolens). The market yield of cabbage as a sole crop (41.07 t ha^-1) did not differ to intercropping production with salad and red beet; yields of cabbage in intercropping with celery, leek, beans and tomato were significantly lower. All intercrops had land equivalent ratios (LER) >1.00 and the highest LER (1.62) was reached in cabbage and tomato intercropping due to the same density of tomato as an intercrop and as a sole crop. The intercropping production of white cabbage with the studied vegetables is more productive than sole cropping in terms of land use efficiency.