Response of Yellow Lupine to the Proximity of Other Plants and Unplanted Path in Strip Intercropping

Lech Gałęzewski,Iwona Jaskulska,Anna Wenda-Piesik,Edward Wilczewski

doi:10.3390/agriculture10070285

Abstract

Taking into account the climatic conditions of central Europe, yellow lupine is often considered as an alternative to soybean, which has significantly higher thermal requirements. Attempts to intercrop yellow lupine with cereals have often resulted in failure. In combined production, the relative amount of lupine has proven to be considerably smaller given the sowing mix proportions and its yield potential in pure stand. Low yield is attributed to lupine’s low competitive potential, therefore strip intercropping presents a viable alternative. The main goal of the experiment was to determine the response of yellow lupine to the neighboring presence of wheat, triticale, barley, and pea, as well as to estimate the production effects of lupine in strip intercropping. Field trials were carried out in Poland (53°13′ N; 17°51′ E) in the years 2008–2010. The experimental factor consisted of row layout: a four-row separation between lupine and the neighboring species. The proximity of cereals and peas proved to be most unfavorable to yellow lupine. It was determined that yellow lupine was most intolerant of barley and least affected by the proximity of peas. Depending on the neighboring species, adverse effects extended up to the third row of lupine’s canopy. A beneficial alternative for the production effect involves an introduction of a path separating the lupine strip from the tested species.

Highlights

Soybean seed is the world’s primary source of plant protein
The results presented in manuscript this manuscript are of part of previously published studies the to proximity effect (PE)
An analogy could be found in regard to the effect on yellow lupine plants grown in mixed intercropping (MI) with other species

Summary

Introduction

Soybean seed is the world’s primary source of plant protein. In temperate climate conditions soybean cultivation remains relatively inefficient [1]. Yellow lupine seeds [2,3,4] have become a promising alternative protein source. Cultivation can be carried out by pure sowing or by intercropping with other spring crop species. Due to intercropping of lupine with other plants, the seed yield decreases; the protein yield is noticeably higher [5]. We distinguish different intercropping systems depending on the time of sowing and spatial placement [6]. Cereals (wheat, barley, and oats) and legumes (yellow lupine, narrow leaf lupine, and peas) are grown mainly in mixed intercropping (MI), i.e., they are planted in the same rows

Results

Discussion

Conclusion