Weeds Spectrum, Productivity and Land-Use Efficiency in Maize-Gram Intercropping Systems under Semi-Arid Environment

Rana Nadeem Abbas,Daniel Ingo Hefft,Jen-Tsung Chen,Asif Iqbal,Muhammad Aamir Iqbal,Ali Raza,Mohammed Nasser Alyemeni,Muhammad Imran,Muhammad Awais Arshad

doi:10.3390/agronomy11081615

Abstract

To ensure food security on sustainable basis, reducing weeds interference and boosting land use efficiency are critical. A field study was conducted at research farm of University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan, to sort out the most productive maize-gram intercropping system under semi-arid environment. Treatments included sole maize in single row (60 cm apart) (T1) and double rows (90 cm apart) (T2) strips, sole black (T3) and green gram (T4) crops, six single rows (60 cm apart) of maize with twelve double rows (20 cm) of black (T5) and green gram (T6), three double rows (90 cm apart) of maize with three sets of quadratic rows (20 cm apart) of black (T7) and green gram (T8). The experiment was executed in regular arrangement of randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that T1 produced the highest grain yield (6.97 t ha−1) of maize and significantly lower weeds infestation compared to wider row spacing (T2). Among intercropping systems, T8 significantly decreased weeds density (16.33 plants m−2) and their fresh (20.93 g m−2) and dry weights (5.63 g m−2), while the maximum land use efficiency as indicated by unmatched land equivalent ratio and intercropping advantage were recorded by T7 and T8. Interestingly, green gram in intercropping recorded over 58% higher productivity than black gram. We conclude that maize-green gram intercropping hold potential to impart sustainability to maize production by reducing weeds infestation (431% lower than sole maize) and could be a viable option for smallholder farmers in semi-arid environment.

Highlights

Intensive agriculture is providing substantial yields of cereals but has caused serious environmental degradation, largely owing to excessive use of mineral fertilizers and chemical pesticides [1]
The results revealed that monocultures of maize (60 cm spaced single row strips and 90 cm spaced double rows strips) differed significantly in terms of weeds infestation as wider row spacing (T2) recorded higher weeds density along with their fresh and dry biomasses compared to T1 during both seasons
Among maize intercropping systems with green gram and black gram, T8 remained superior by recording the minimum weeds density along with their fresh and dry weights, while the highest corresponding values of weeds density, fresh and dry weights were exhibited by T5 during both years

Summary

Introduction

Intensive agriculture is providing substantial yields of cereals but has caused serious environmental degradation, largely owing to excessive use of mineral fertilizers and chemical pesticides [1]. For ensuring nutritional security on sustainable basis under changing climate, developing innovative farming systems for cereals are indispensable especially in Asian countries like Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, China and Bangladesh. These countries are confronting profound environmental degradation as evident through global warming and unpredictable variation in precipitation regimes which have adversely affected the farming systems across the continent [2]. It was reported that strip cropped maize with legumes developed deeper and extended roots network into the soil for exploring lower soil horizons owing to competition for moisture uptake [6]. Changing climate requisites evaluating atypical maize production systems that may potentially boost productivity without requiring additional farm inputs

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion