Effect of pea and spring cereals intercropping on grain yield and crude protein content

Zydrė Kadziulienė,Irena Deveikytė,Lina Sarūnaitė

doi:10.5937/ratpov1101183k

Abstract

The advantage of intercropping is beneficial biological interactions between crops and their different use of growth resources. Our experiment aimed at investigating the effects of pea intercropping with cereals on the improvement of cereal supply with nitrogen and protein content in grain on a loamy soil in organic farming conditions. It was carried out during 2007-2009 at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture in Dotnuva. Pea (Pisum sativum L) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L), spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L) oats (Avena sativa L), and triticale (x Triticosecale Wittm) were sown as intercrops 50:50 or as a sole crop. The results obtained during the experimental years showed that the productivity and quality of spring cereal sole crops or intercrops depended on the species of cereals and varied between different year's cultivation conditions. Grain productivity in some cases was estimated to be higher in the intercrops, however it was not stable in three experimental years. The protein content and yield in the grain of cereals grown in intercrops was positively affected by pea intercrops.

Highlights

The inclusion of legumes in crop rotations and intercrops can provide increased protein-rich yields and a more sustainable source of nitrogen, while on the other hand it saves cost by reducing the requirement for mineral nitrogen application (Anil et al 1998, Crews & Peoples 2004)
In previous research on pea productivity on light loam soil, it was noticed that a stand density of 80-90 plants m-2 was sufficient to produce a rather high yield (Auškalnis & Dovydaitis 1998)
The results obtained during the tree experimental years showed that the productivity of spring cereal sole crops or cereal and pea intercrops depended on the species of cereals and cultivation conditions (Tab. 3)

Summary

Introduction

The inclusion of legumes in crop rotations and intercrops can provide increased protein-rich yields and a more sustainable source of nitrogen, while on the other hand it saves cost by reducing the requirement for mineral nitrogen application (Anil et al 1998, Crews & Peoples 2004). Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is the most common legume in crop rotations and quite productive in temperate conditions, as well as in Lithuania (Auskalnis 2001). Being one of the most popular plants in the organic cropping system, pea provides high quality forage, rich in crude protein and mineral elements It is not less important for its ability to accumulate atmospheric nitrogen, on which depends the state of the whole crop rotation and agroecosystem, and.

Methods

Results

Conclusion