scholarly journals Intercropping Pattern and N Fertilizer Schedule Affect the Performance of Additively Intercropped Maize and Forage Cowpea in the Mediterranean Region

Agronomy ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 107
Author(s):  
Heba S. A. Salama ◽  
Ali I. Nawar ◽  
Hassan E. Khalil
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Equivalent Ratio ◽  
Land Use Efficiency ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Intercropping Pattern

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.

Trade-Off between Energy Wood and Grain Production in Temperate Alley-Cropping Systems: An Empirical and Simulation-Based Derivation of Land Equivalent Ratio

Agriculture ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana-Maria Seserman ◽  
Dirk Freese ◽  
Anita Swieter ◽  
Maren Langhof ◽  
Maik Veste
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Alley Cropping ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Energy Yield ◽  
Land Area ◽  
Land Equivalent Ratio ◽  
Equivalent Ratio ◽  
Land Use Efficiency ◽  
Gross Energy ◽  
Use Efficiency

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.

scholarly journals Maximizing Land Use Efficiency and Productivity of Soybean and Fodder Maize Intercrops through Manipulating Sowing Schedule and Maize Harvest Regime

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 863
Author(s):  
Heba S. A. Salama ◽  
Mahmoud H. Abdel-Moneim
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Forage Crops ◽  
Equivalent Ratio ◽  
Land Use Efficiency ◽  
Green Fodder ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Silage Production ◽  
Efficiency And Productivity

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.

Effects of nitrogen supply and spatial arrangement on the grain yield of a maize/soybean intercrop in a humid subtropical climate

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alain Clément ◽  
François-P. Chalifour ◽  
Ghislain Gendron ◽  
Maheshwar P. Bharati
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilization ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Pure Stand ◽  
Subtropical Climate ◽  
Land Use Efficiency ◽  
Glycine Max L ◽  
Use Efficiency

Cereal/legume intercropping is a common practice in low-input agricultural systems. Under appropriate conditions, it usually results in higher overall productivity as compared with pure stands. Appraisal of agronomic practices is of particular importance, since component crops sometimes differ considerably in their structure and fertilization needs. An experiment was conducted under the subtropical conditions of Southern Nepal, in the Terai belt, in 1988 and 1989. Maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) received 0, 35 or 70 kg N ha−1 when grown either in pure stands or when intercropped in two spatial arrangements differing in spatial intimacy. Nitrogen fertilization resulted in similar grain yield increases for maize either in pure stands or in intercropping with soybean, indicating that the availability of nitrogen for the cereal was comparable in both cropping systems. Soybean yields were 22% lower in the presence of maize, as compared with a pure stand. The overall productivity of intercropping, as assessed by ATER (area-time equivalent ratio), was significantly higher than that of pure stands in 1988 and 1989. Land-use efficiency was higher when maize was intercropped with nodulating soybean, as compared to non-nodulating soybean, but only at 0 and 35 kg N ha−1.Key words: ATER, land-use efficiency, non-nodulating soybean isoline, nitrogen fertilization, spatial arrangement, interactions

scholarly journals Dual purpose wheat production with different levels of nitrogen topdressing

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 1091 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éderson Luis Henz ◽  
Paulo Sergio Gois de Almeida ◽  
João Pedro Velho ◽  
José Laerte Nörnberg ◽  
Leandro Das Dores Ferreira da Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Nitrogen Addition ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrates ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Land Use Efficiency ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Nitrogen Additions

Currently, the practice of Crop-Livestock Integration is stimulated as a way of increasing the generation of foreign exchange for Brazil. Integrated systems improve land use efficiency as well as preserve, recover and increment or soil fertility. The aim of this research was to evaluate how different doses of nitrogen fertilization can affect production and quality of dual purpose wheat submitted to grazing. The experimental designed was randomized block with five treatments (0, 75, 150, 225 and 300 Kg N ha-1, like ammonium nitrate) and four repetitions. The forage yield, the percentage crude protein (P=.0001) and acid detergent insoluble protein (P=.0054) had a linear increased because of the nitrogen addition doses. The crude protein percentage changed the estimate of all soluble carbohydrates (P=.0001) and non-fibrous carbohydrates (P=.0186), but did not influence the, nitrogen detergent fiber corrected with ash and proteins percentage contributing for content cell. The crops production (P=.0001) and the number of kernels per ear (P=.0001) showed significantly difference because of the nitrogen additions dose, increasing the number of fertile flowers. The nitrogen topdressing alters forage production, the chemical composition and the production of dual purpose wheat grains subjected to grazing.

scholarly journals Soil water dynamics and yield in maize and Brachiaria ruziziensis intercropping

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Sabrine França Silva ◽  
Aderson Soares de Andrade Júnior ◽  
Milton José Cardoso ◽  
Raimundo Bezerra de Araújo Neto
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Time Domain Reflectometry ◽  
Water Dynamics ◽  
Soil Water Dynamics ◽  
Land Use Efficiency ◽  
Brachiaria Ruziziensis ◽  
High Plant Density ◽  
Use Efficiency

ABSTRACT In intercropping systems, a high plant density can delay the biomass accumulation and affect the water availability to plants. This study aimed to evaluate the soil water dynamics and the crop yield performance in maize and Brachiaria ruziziensis intercropping under different sowing densities of the forage grass. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, with treatments associated to the sowing densities (2 kg ha-1, 4 kg ha-1, 6 kg ha-1 and 8 kg ha-1) and the single cropping for both species as controls. The maize plants were evaluated for grain yield and B. ruziziensis for number of plants per hectare and shoot fresh and dry matter. The intercropping performance was evaluated using the land-use efficiency index. The soil water dynamics was monitored in two soil depths (0-0.3 m and 0.3-0.6 m) by using the time domain reflectometry method. The evaluation of soil water storage was carried out from plots with four of the crop systems (single maize or B. ruziziensis, and intercropping with the extreme sowing densities), at four different times. The increase in the sowing density of B. ruziziensis decreased the grain yield of the intercropped maize by 30.8 %. The intercropping system using 2 kg ha-1 of the grass seeds resulted in the best land-use efficiency (23 %). In addition, the intercropping treatments promoted a higher extraction of water from the soil, mainly at the maize growth stages with higher hydric demand (e.g., flowering and grain filling). These systems stimulate the extraction of water from deeper soil layers, when compared to maize in single cropping.

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
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Average Yield ◽  
Land Equivalent Ratio ◽  
Single Row ◽  
Equivalent Ratio ◽  
Land Use Efficiency ◽  
Competition For Light ◽  
Use Efficiency

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'.

scholarly journals Assessment and Spatial-Temporal Evolution Analysis of Urban Land Use Efficiency under Green Development Orientation: Case of the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomerations

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 715
Author(s):  
Yingkai Tang ◽  
Kun Wang ◽  
Xuanming Ji ◽  
He Xu ◽  
Yangqing Xiao
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Evaluation System ◽  
Yangtze River Delta ◽  
Urban Land ◽  
Urban Land Use ◽  
Land Use Efficiency ◽  
Green Development ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Development Orientation

Rapid urbanization has provided a strong impetus for the economic growth of China, but it has also caused many problems such as inefficient urban land use and environmental pollution. With the popularization of the concept of green and sustainable development, the Environmental-Social-Governance (ESG) assessment concept is widely accepted. The government and residents are paying more and more attention to environmental issues in urban development, and environmental protection has formed an important part of urban development. In this context, this study takes 26 cities in the Yangtze River Delta as examples to build an evaluation system for urban land-use efficiency under green development orientation. The evaluation system takes into account the inputs of land, capital, labor, and energy factors in the process of urban development. Based on emphasizing economic output, the social benefits and undesired outputs brought about by urban development are taken into account. This paper measures urban land use efficiency by the super-efficiency SBM model, and on this basis, analyses the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics of urban land-use efficiency. Further, this paper measures urban land use efficiency without considering undesired outputs and compares the two evaluation methods. Again, the comparison illustrates the rationality of urban land use efficiency evaluation system under green development orientation.

scholarly journals Does the Construction and Operation of High-Speed Rail Improve Urban Land Use Efficiency? Evidence from China

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 303
Author(s):  
Xinhai Lu ◽  
Yifeng Tang ◽  
Shangan Ke
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Land Use ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Urban Land ◽  
Urban Land Use ◽  
Western China ◽  
High Speed Rail ◽  
Land Use Efficiency ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
The Impact

The construction and operation of high-speed rail (HSR) has become an important policy for China to achieve efficiency and fairness and promote high-quality economic growth. HSR promotes the flow of production factors such as labor and capital and affects economic growth, and may further affect urban land use efficiency (ULUE). To explore the impact of HSR on ULUE, this paper uses panel data of 284 cities in China from 2005 to 2018, and constructs Propensity Score Matching-Differences in Differences model to evaluate the effect of HSR on ULUE. The result of entire China demonstrates that the HSR could significantly improves the ULUE. Meanwhile, this paper also considers the heterogeneity of results caused by geographic location, urban levels and scales. It demonstrates that the HSR has a significantly positive effect on ULUE of Eastern, Central China, and large-sized cities. However, in Western China, in medium-sized, and small-sized cities, the impact of HSR on ULUE is not significant. This paper concludes that construction and operation of HSR should be linked to urban development planning and land use planning. Meanwhile, the cities with different geographical locations and scales should take advantage of HSR to improve ULUE and promote urban coordinated development.

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