Weed Biology and Ecology Studies: Diversity, Dominance, Population and Weed Growth and Land Use Efficiency in Intercropping Corn (Zea mays l.) with Leguminous Crops in Dryland

Abstract

The aim of the research is to examine the effect of intercropping corn with leguminous crops on weeds and land use efficiency. The experimental research method was designed using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three blocks. The treatments tested were monocrop planting patterns and intercropping between corn and leguminous crops. The results of the research showed that 16 weed species were found with high species diversity, evenness, dominance, and abundance, so that there were six dominant species that existed during plant growth. Peanuts and cowpeas are suitable for intercropping with corn because they can suppress the population and growth of weeds. Soybeans, green beans, and red beans are not suitable because they are not effective in suppressing the population and growth of weeds and compete with corn, so that corn yield losses due to competition are 38.20%–40.96% and due to weed competition, they reach 62.37%–63.77%. The best ecological and agronomic land use efficiency was obtained by intercropping corn with peanuts and cowpeas, with NKL values based on dry biomass weights of 1.90 and 1.89 (NKL > 1) and dry seed weights of 1.79 and 1.78 (NKL > 1).