scholarly journals INTERCROPPING OF SOUTHERNPEAS AND CORN

HortScience ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 489d-489
Author(s):  
E. G. Rhoden ◽  
P. Jere ◽  
P. K. Biswas

Intercropping increases land use efficiency and provide prolonged yields between compatible crops. A study was conducted to evaluate the yield advantage of intercropping southernpeas (Vigna unguiculata) with corn (Zea mays) in addition to determining the yield advantage of corn, `Yellow Trucker', and two southernpeas cultivars; `Mississippi Silver' and `Pinkeye Purolehull', in an intercrop. Cropping method significantly affected the yield of corn but not southernpeas. Cropping method also influenced leaf area, dry matter and plant height of both southernpeas cultivars. Corn had higher yields in alternate-single row (45×30 cm) with southernpeas intercrop than within (90×15 cm) or alternate row (90×15). Competition for light and nutrients may have accounted for the reduction in dry matter and leaf area of southernpeas in intercrop. The average yield advantage, as measured by the land equivalent ratio, ranged between 1.39 and 1.70. When area time equivalent ratio was used to measure the yield advantage, the range was 1.2 to 1.45. `Pinkeye Purplehull' is more compatible with corn in intercropping than `Mississippi Silver'.

Agriculture ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana-Maria Seserman ◽  
Dirk Freese ◽  
Anita Swieter ◽  
Maren Langhof ◽  
Maik Veste

The alley-cropping systems (ACSs), which integrate parallel tree strips at varying distances on an agricultural field can result, complementarity of resource use, in an increased land-use efficiency. Practitioners’ concerns have been directed towards the productivity of such systems given a reduced area covered by agricultural crops. The land equivalent ratio (LER) serves as a valuable productivity indicator of yield performance and land-use efficiency in ACSs, as it compares the yields achieved in monocultures to those from ACSs. Consequently, the objective of this combined experimental and simulation study was to assess the tree- and crop-yields and to derive the LER and gross energy yield for two temperate ACSs in Germany under different design scenarios, i.e., tree arrangements (lee- or wind-ward) and ratios of tree area to crop area. Both LER and gross energy yields resulted in a convex curve where the maximum values were achieved when either the tree or crop component was dominant (>75% of the land area) and minimum when these components shared similar proportions of land area. The implications of several design scenarios have been discussed in order to improve the decision-making, optimization, and adaptation of the design of ACSs with respect to site-specific characteristics.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 863
Author(s):  
Heba S. A. Salama ◽  
Mahmoud H. Abdel-Moneim

The incorporation of both food and forage crops in an intercropping system is receiving increasing attention, especially in developing countries with increasing populations and limited resources. In a two-year (2019–2020) field trial, conducted in Northern Egypt, productivity of soybean and fodder maize, as well as the quality of maize herbage, were investigated under three sowing schedules; soybean and maize sown together, and maize sown 15 and 30 days after soybean, in addition to soybean and fodder maize sown in pure stands, with maize harvested at green fodder maturity (GFM), and silage maturity (SM). Harvesting fodder maize at SM resulted in higher herbage yield than harvesting it at GFM, yet it negatively affected the soybean productivity. However, this negative impact was offset when fodder maize sowing was delayed 30 days after soybean sowing. Maize harvested at GFM was characterized by a higher leaf component, which was reflected in its higher crude protein content, yet the decline in quality with advanced maturity was to a great extent, counterbalanced by the presence of high-quality ears in maize harvested at SM. This was clear in its lower fiber and higher non-fiber carbohydrate contents. Land equivalent ratio (LER) demonstrated yield advantage with the delayed sowing of fodder maize (LER > 1), while the dry matter equivalent ratio (DMER) associated the yield advantage with the late harvesting of fodder maize at SM (DMER > 1), across all sowing schedules, which was more realistic for an additive intercropping model where the dry matter is the economic component. In a soybean-fodder maize intercropping system, whether fodder maize will be cultivated for green feeding or for silage production, it is recommended that sowing is delayed until 30 days after the soybean, in order to maximize yield advantage and land use efficiency.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Beyenesh Z. Kidane ◽  
Mereseit H. Hailu ◽  
Haile T. Haile

AbstractSmallholders have limited landholding in the highlands of Tigray and therefore there is a critical need to improve land use efficiency (LUE). One way to improve the LUE is through intercropping of companion crops including maize and potato. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the intercropping ratio as a means to improve land use efficiency during the 2012 cropping season. The treatments tested were three intercropping ratios of maize: potato in 1:1, 1:2, 2:1 row arrangement compared against the maize and potato only cropping. The objective of the study was to identify the best intercropping ratio that maximizes land use efficiency. Land equivalent ratio (LER) was used to compare the land use efficiency of the intercrops with each sole crop. The total yield of intercropped crops were greater than sole cropping, shown by LER>1. The overall advantage of intercropping ranged from 35 to 58%. The highest land equivalent value of 58% was recorded for one maize and two potato rows arrangements indicated a yield advantage of 58% over sole crop. The partial land equivalent value of both crops in intercropping was less than one indicating the cohesiveness of both crops in intercropping. Thus, it can be concluded that 1maize: 2 potato intercropping is a viable agronomic option in increasing land use efficiency and increased food security. It is, therefore, imperative to demonstrate the best treatment under farmer’s condition.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1615
Author(s):  
Rana Nadeem Abbas ◽  
Muhammad Awais Arshad ◽  
Asif Iqbal ◽  
Muhammad Aamir Iqbal ◽  
Muhammad Imran ◽  
...  

To ensure food security on sustainable basis, reducing weeds interference and boosting land use efficiency are critical. A field study was conducted at research farm of University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan, to sort out the most productive maize-gram intercropping system under semi-arid environment. Treatments included sole maize in single row (60 cm apart) (T1) and double rows (90 cm apart) (T2) strips, sole black (T3) and green gram (T4) crops, six single rows (60 cm apart) of maize with twelve double rows (20 cm) of black (T5) and green gram (T6), three double rows (90 cm apart) of maize with three sets of quadratic rows (20 cm apart) of black (T7) and green gram (T8). The experiment was executed in regular arrangement of randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that T1 produced the highest grain yield (6.97 t ha−1) of maize and significantly lower weeds infestation compared to wider row spacing (T2). Among intercropping systems, T8 significantly decreased weeds density (16.33 plants m−2) and their fresh (20.93 g m−2) and dry weights (5.63 g m−2), while the maximum land use efficiency as indicated by unmatched land equivalent ratio and intercropping advantage were recorded by T7 and T8. Interestingly, green gram in intercropping recorded over 58% higher productivity than black gram. We conclude that maize-green gram intercropping hold potential to impart sustainability to maize production by reducing weeds infestation (431% lower than sole maize) and could be a viable option for smallholder farmers in semi-arid environment.


1985 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. Putnam ◽  
S. J. Herbert ◽  
A. Vargas

SUMMARYIntercropped corn and soyabean were grown in a randomized block design (RBD) and a systematic design (SD) in 1981 and 1982 to evaluate total yield, yield complementarity, crop competition and land-use efficiency as affected by corn and soyabean densities. In the RBD, three corn density treatments were applied to corn–corn–soyabean–soyabean, corn–corn–soyabean, and corn–soyabean intercrop row patterns and to monocultures. In the SD, 9 or 10 corn densities were factorially combined with up to 13 soyabean densities in a corn–soyabean row pattern (91 cm spacing). In the RBD, total intercrop yields were similar to corn monoculture yields (60.8 to 62.7 t ha−1 in 1981) in the corn–corn–soyabean and corn–soyabean patterns at high corn densities but were less at low density. The corn–corn–soyabean–soyabean pattern yielded 87% of the corn monoculture at high density in 1982. These results were confirmed in the SD, where total intercrop yields were highly responsive to corn density and poorly responsive to soyabean densities. Both experiments indicated that high corn row densities are needed to maintain yields in corn–soyabean intercrops, possibly higher than the levels studied. Land equivalent ratios were above 1.0 for all but the low density corn–corn–soyabean–soyabean pattern in the RBD. The ability of an intercrop with as many as half the corn rows replaced by soyabean to produce yields similar to corn monoculture indicates a biological complementarity for dry matter production in the mixtures.


Author(s):  
Lucivania R. Lima ◽  
Thieres G. F. da Silva ◽  
Alexandre M. da R. F. Jardim ◽  
Carlos A. A. de Souza ◽  
Maria G. de Queiroz ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The effects of the forage cactus sorghum configuration and different irrigation depths on the growth, water use and efficiency of the forage cactus production system were investigated in this study. The experiment was conducted in the municipality of Serra Talhada, Pernambuco State, Brazil, between the years 2012 and 2013. Forage cactus was distributed in randomized blocks with factorial scheme and four replicates, in split plots (5 x 2), with five irrigation depths (0, 8.75, 17.5, 26.25 and 35% of the reference evapotranspiration, ET0) and two cropping systems (forage cactus monocropping and forage cactus sorghum intercropping). Crop evapotranspiration was calculated through soil water balance. The ratio between crop and reference evapotranspiration, and land use and water use efficiencies, were estimated. Irrigation depths and the intercropping affected only forage cactus canopy width and cladode biomass. The ratio between crop and reference evapotranspiration increased with the increase of irrigation depths, while the highest water use efficiency based on dry matter occurred at irrigation depths higher than 1,096 mm year-1 in the intercropping (21.8 ± 6.8 kg ha-1 mm-1). Irrigation depths did not affect land use efficiency (0.83). Water depths from 1,096 to 1,202 mm year-1 are recommended in the forage cactus sorghum system.


1989 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 529-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. T. Russell ◽  
R. M. Caldwell

SUMMARYA field study was conducted in 1985 at two locations in Maryland, USA, to test the influence of environment (location), input level (N fertilization), management (component density combinations), and measure of performance on recommendations for a maize/soyabean intercrop. Location affected the degree of intercrop yield depression of each crop; the effect of N on relative competitive abilities; the maximum Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) and maximum modified Staple Land Equivalent Ratio (SLER); the difference between LER and SLER; the optimum density combinations and change in optima in response to N; and the N level at which the greatest land use efficiency was achieved. Given the complexity of the environmental effects, recommendations based on the trials have a very narrow range of applicability.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-158
Author(s):  
MANOJ KUMAR ◽  
RAGHAVENDRA SINGH ◽  
RK AVASTHE ◽  
JK SINGH ◽  
PK PATHAK ◽  
...  

Frontline demonstration on potato (Kufri Sindhuri) was conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, East Sikkim, India. A total 158 nos. of demonstration were conducted in rice-fallow (farmers’ practice) at farmer’s field in nine numbers of villages during the year 2019-20. Results revealed that average yield of rice and potato recorded was 2.09 t/ha and 14.13 t/ha, respectively. Higher system rice equivalent yield (REY) was recorded 16.22 t/ha in rice-potato and 2.1 t/ha and rice-fallow system. System production efficiency (SPE) was also higher in rice-potato (62.14 kg/ha/day) as compared to rice-fallow (14.51 kg/ha/day). Land use efficiency (LUE) was recorded 71.51 % and 39.45 % in rice-potato and rice-fallow system, respectively. Net return was found Rs.16032/ha in rice-fallow and Rs.183952/- with rice-potato system during the years of demonstration. Higher benefit to cost (B: C) ratio was found 2.82:1 in rice-potato than in rice-fallow (1.62:1) system. Economic efficiency was also recorded higher in rice -potato (704.80 Rs/ha/day) than rice-fallow (111.33 Rs/ha/day) during the demonstrated year. Hence, it may be concluded that the inclusion of potato in rice -fallow is an option for increasing the additional income of the farmers for their livelihood improvement.


Agronomy ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 107
Author(s):  
Heba S. A. Salama ◽  
Ali I. Nawar ◽  
Hassan E. Khalil

Intercropping maize and forage cowpea is a widely proposed strategy to improve land use efficiency, and maximize the economic value of the farming system, especially in developing countries with restricted resources. The current study was carried out during the successive summers of 2020 and 2021 in Northern Egypt. The main objective was to evaluate the effect of three N schedules (NS1, NS2, NS3), when three different maize–cowpea intercropping patterns (IP1, IP2, IP3) were applied, on the grain yield of maize, forage yield and quality of forage cowpea. In addition, yield gain and land use efficiency were evaluated using the land equivalent ratio (LER) and dry matter equivalent ratio (DMER) indices. Results revealed that the intercropping patterns that provided wider spacings for the component crops and reduced the competition between them, mainly IP3, resulted in the best performances for the two crops. This was clear for maize ear and grain yields, 100-grain weight and harvest index, in addition to cowpea fresh and dry forage yields, crude protein and non-fiber carbohydrates of the three cuts. Regarding the applied N schedules, NS1 which included the application of a N starter dose with sowing proved to be the most efficient schedule that led to the best performance for both crops. Maize produced 9.07 t ha−1 grain yield under IP3 and NS1. In addition, the application of IP3 resulted in the highest significant cowpea dry forage yield (DFY), with the highest crude protein (CP) content. The DFY of cuts 1, 2, and 3 amounted to 1.27, 0.45, and 0.24 t ha−1, while the CP content for the three respective cuts reached 159.49, 157.96, and 148.91 g kg−1. Nonetheless, NS1 produced a reasonable amount of DFY with high CP content. It is recommended to follow the third proposed intercropping pattern (IP3) and to include a nitrogen starter dose (NS1) in the fertilization scheme to ensure highest productivity from the intercropped maize and forage cowpea.


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