The Effect of Maize (Zea mays L.) / Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) Intercropping and Biofertilizer (Azotobacter) on Yield, Leaf Area Index and Land Equivalent Ratio

Aydın Ünay,İbrahim Sabanci,Volkan Mehmet Çinar

doi:10.15832/ankutbd.572495

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of the different intercropping design of maize/soybean compared with sole cropping, in combination with Vitormone (biofertilizer; Azotobacter) during 2012 and 2013. There were four different intercropping designs were used in the experiment: i) sole maize and soybean, ii) 1 maize + 1 soybean in alternate rows, iii) 1 maize + 2 soybeans in alternate rows and iv) 1 maize + 2 soybeans in intra rows under control with the Vitormone application. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with two factors and three replications. The results showed that the seed/grain yields and the Leaf area index of sole soybean and sole maize outperformed the intercropping. The highest yields for both maize (8.0 t ha-1) and soybean (3.26 t ha-1) and land equivalent ratio (1.26) were recorded at 1 maize + 2 soybeans in alternate rows among the intercropping. The effect of Vitormone was significantly positive for all cropping system except 1 maize + 1 soybean in alternate rows. This suggests that 1 maize + 2 soybeans in alternate rows can intercrop and combine with the Vitormone. The intercropping of cereal/legume has the potential to improve the utilization of resources in monocropped lands.

Highlights

Intercropping can be defined as a multiple cropping system that two or more crops planted in a field during a growing season (Yong et al 2015)
The results from the present study indicated that interactive effects of intercropping design and Vitormone application for maize yield were significant in the 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons
The high maize yields recorded in sole maize with the Vitormone (16.2 and 15.3 t ha-1) and the non-Vitormone plots (14.9 and 14.3 t ha-1) compared to intercropping plots (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Intercropping can be defined as a multiple cropping system that two or more crops planted in a field during a growing season (Yong et al 2015). The most benefit of intercropping is optimum utilization of plant resources such as nitrogen in Gramineae (or Poaceae)/Legumes (or Fabaceae) intercropping (Nasri et al 2014). When the crop with large canopy intercropped with the small crops, such as maize and soybean intercropping, soybean yield could decrease due to interspecific light competition (Liu et al 2017). The optimum inter-row and intra-row distances are the most important to produce a high yield in maize/soybean intercropping (Kim et al 2018). It was reported that the LER values above 1 determined in maize/soybean intercropping (Dolijanvic et al 2009; Tsujimoto et al 2015; Kamara et al 2017)

Methods

Results

Conclusion