Crop systems that improve conservation of natural resources and diversity of production is a promising practice for farmers seeking low costs and a sustainable agriculture. The coffee - rubber tree intercropping has been studied in the south of Minas Gerais - Brazil. Within this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the characteristics gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and water relations of coffee and rubber tree in both intercropping and monocroping systems, in the early stage of the plantation establishment. The results showed that the reduction in radiation levels and temperature promote gas exchange increase in coffee, while higher photosynthetic radiation values and soil water availability are favorable to rubber tree in intercropping systems.
Coffee; Rubber tree; intercropping system; photosynthesis
