Effects of maize plant type and row spacing on the field microclimate and yield of intercropping ginger

Abstract

ABSTRACT To explore field microclimate changes under maize/ginger intercropping and select a reasonable field configuration, this study used the major ginger variety ‘Zhugen’ from Southwest China as the experimental material. Two maize plant types; tall (Zhenghong 311) and short (Zhenghong 6), with 2, 3, and 4 m row spacings, shading treatment (ST), and a control (pure) without shading (CK) were used for the study. The effects of the maize plant type and row spacing on soil temperature, humidity, canopy temperature, light transmittance, plant growth, and intercropped ginger yield were investigated. Soil moisture, ginger canopy humidity, and shading rate in the maize/ginger intercropping mode were significantly higher than those in the non-shading treatment. Conversely, the soil and ginger canopy temperatures of the maize/ginger intercropping mode were significantly lower than those of the non-shading treatment. As a result, plant height, stem diameter, branch number, and ginger yield were significantly higher under the intercropping mode than the non-shading treatment. Although maize/ginger intercropping improves ginger growth and yield, these parameters are dependent on maize plant type and row spacing. The ginger yield was significantly higher when intercropped with the tall maize ZH 311 than with short maize ZH 6. The yield improved with decreasing row spacing and was the highest at a row spacing of 2 m. At the aforementioned field configurations, the soil and canopy humidity were the highest whereas the soil and canopy temperatures were the lowest, thereby giving best results on parameters like plant height, stem diameter, branch number, and yield.