Strip Intercropping System Research Articles

INTERCROPPING OF CARROT X COWPEA-VEGETABLES: EVALUATION OF CULTIVAR COMBINATIONS FERTILIZED WITH ROOSTERTREE

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate combinations of cowpea-vegetable cultivars with carrot cultivars in a strip-intercropping system fertilized with roostertree. The work was conducted at the Experimental Farm "Rafael Fernandes" of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA) during September 2013 to March 2014. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications and treatments arranged in a factorial 4 x 2 scheme, resulting from the combination of four cowpea -vegetable cultivars (BRS Tumucumaque, BRS Cauamé, BRS Guariba and BRS Itaim) with two carrot cultivars (Brasilia and Alvorada). The characteristics evaluated in cowpea-vegetables were: number of green pods per area, productivity and dry weight of green pods, number of grains per pod, productivity of grains, weight of 100 grains, and dry weight of green grains. In the carrot cultivars, we evaluated total, commercial, and classified productivity of roots. The cultivar combinations were evaluated in terms of land equivalent ratio, productive efficiency index, score of the canonical variable, as well as indicators of gross and net income, rate of return, profit margin, and modified monetary advantage. The intercropping system using the cultivars BRS Guariba (cowpea) and Alvorada (carrot) achieved highest agronomic/biological efficiency. Highest economic efficiency was achieved with the combination BRS Tumucumaque (cowpea) and Brasilia (carrot).

Response of leaf morphology and photosynthetic characteristics of soybean in maize-soybean relay strip intercropping system

Response of leaf morphology and photosynthetic characteristics of soybean in maize-soybean relay strip intercropping system

Effect of narrow-row planting patterns on crop competitive and economic advantage in maize–soybean relay strip intercropping system

Narrow-row planting patterns directly affect crop yield and competition in intercropping systems. A two-year (2012 and 2013) field experiment was conducted to determine the interactive behavior between intercrops in a maize–soybean relay strip intercropping system. Maize plants were planted in different narrow-wide row planting patterns, whereas soybean was planted in wide rows. The total biomass and grain yield of maize increased with increasing maize narrow-row spacing, but the opposite trend was observed for soybean. The aggressivity, competitive ratio, and partial relative crowding advantage values for maize were greater than those for soybean. Moreover, the competitive interaction of the intercrops was affected by the distance between maize and soybean rows. The highest intercrop land equivalent ratio (LER) 1.61 and 1.59 was found in the 40:160 planting pattern (i.e. 40 cm narrow-row spacing and 160 cm wide-row spacing of maize) during 2012 and 2013, respectively. Combined with actual yield loss and LER, the intense intra-specific competition of maize plants reduced the depression for the associated soybeans when the maize narrow-row spacing was less than 30 cm. When the narrow-row spacing was wider than 50 cm, soybean growth was seriously depressed by maize because of the stronger inter-specific competition between maize and soybean. The maximum yield and economic advantage appeared in the 40:160 narrow-wide row planting pattern. Therefore, intercropping advantage may be achieved by changing the row spacing and distance between intercrop rows to coordinate the inter-specific competition between maize and soybean.

Partial improvements in the flavor quality of soybean seeds using intercropping systems with appropriate shading

The profiles of isoflavone and fatty acids constitute important quality traits in soybean seeds, for making soy-based functional food products, due to their important contributions to the flavor and nutritional value of these products. In general, the composition of these constituents in raw soybeans is affected by cultivation factors, such as sunlight; however, the relationship of the isoflavone and fatty acid profiles with cultivation factors is not well understood. This study evaluated the isoflavone and fatty acid profiles in soybeans grown under a maize–soybean relay strip intercropping system with different row spacings, and with changes in the photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) transmittance. The effects of PAR on the isoflavone and fatty acid contents were found to be quadratic. Appropriate intercropping shading may reduce the bitterness of soybeans caused by soy aglycone and could improve their fatty acid composition.

Rational Phosphorus Application Facilitates the Sustainability of the Wheat/Maize/Soybean Relay Strip Intercropping System.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/maize (Zea mays L.)/soybean (Glycine max L.) relay strip intercropping (W/M/S) system is commonly used by the smallholders in the Southwest of China. However, little known is how to manage phosphorus (P) to enhance P use efficiency of the W/M/S system and to mitigate P leaching that is a major source of pollution. Field experiments were carried out in 2011, 2012, and 2013 to test the impact of five P application rates on yield and P use efficiency of the W/M/S system. The study measured grain yield, shoot P uptake, apparent P recovery efficiency (PRE) and soil P content. A linear-plateau model was used to determine the critical P rate that maximizes gains in the indexes of system productivity. The results show that increase in P application rates aggrandized shoot P uptake and crops yields at threshold rates of 70 and 71.5 kg P ha-1 respectively. With P application rates increasing, the W/M/S system decreased the PRE from 35.9% to 12.3% averaged over the three years. A rational P application rate, 72 kg P ha-1, or an appropriate soil Olsen-P level, 19.1 mg kg-1, drives the W/M/S system to maximize total grain yield while minimizing P surplus, as a result of the PRE up to 28.0%. We conclude that rational P application is an important approach for relay intercropping to produce high yield while mitigating P pollution and the rational P application-based integrated P fertilizer management is vital for sustainable intensification of agriculture in the Southwest of China.

Water use and crop coefficient of the wheat–maize strip intercropping system for an arid region in northwestern China

Relay strip intercropping of spring wheat and maize is practiced on a large scale in arid regions of northwestern China. In this study, a field experiment was carried out during 2012 and 2013 growing seasons to examine water use and crop coefficient of this system in an arid environment. The experiment comprised three treatments: sole-cropped wheat, sole-cropped maize, and wheat–maize intercropping. The grain yields of both intercropped wheat and maize were enhanced by intercropping. The gross economic profit for wheat–maize intercropping was 16.4% lower than that of sole maize and 95.4% higher than that of sole wheat. The overall land use efficiency was improved by intercropping. The time course of leaf area index in intercropping had the similar trends to those in sole crops with relatively low values, which never exceeded 3.0m2m−2 throughout both growing seasons. Compared to weighted means of the sole-cropping systems, wheat–maize intercropping used 26% and 24% more water in 2012 and 2013, respectively. The water-use efficiency of intercropping was nearly the same as the weighted means of the sole crops. Due to the incomplete groundcover in intercropping plots, more water was consumed as soil evaporation. Averaged over two seasons, the ratio of soil evaporation to actual evapotranspiration was 33.4, 20.7 and 24.1% for intercropping system, sole-cropped wheat and sole-cropped maize, respectively. Crop coefficient (Kc) of sole-cropped wheat was 0.19±0.02, 1.05±0.07, and 0.42±0.09 at the initial, mid and late season in two seasons, respectively. Kc value of the sole-cropped maize was 0.22±0.03, 1.10±0.06 and 0.60±0.02 at the initial, mid and late season, respectively. The Kc values of the wheat–maize intercropping system varied in 0.21±0.03, 0.89±0.05, and 0.78±0.06 at the initial, middle and late wheat growing season, and in 0.85±0.03 and 0.61±0.01 at the middle and late maize growing season, respectively. Therefore, longer growing season and incomplete ground cover are the main factors that resulted in higher water use for wheat–maize intercropping compared to sole crops. Results of this study can help to improve the irrigation efficiency for the wheat–maize strip intercropping system.

Radiation interception and utilization by wheat/maize strip intercropping systems

Intercropping can improve productivity per unit incident radiation by increasing the interception of solar radiation and/or maintaining higher radiation-use efficiency (RUE). This study examined the changes in radiation interception and RUE of spring wheat and spring maize after the initiation of intercropping. The field experiment comprised four treatments: wheat only, maize only, six rows of wheat alternated with two rows of maize (I62), and twelve rows of wheat alternated with four rows of maize (I124). The results demonstrated that per row, wheat in I62 and I124 intercepted 17% and 9% more radiation, respectively, than the wheat sole-cropping system and maize in I62 and I124 intercepted 28% and 26% more radiation, respectively, than the maize sole-cropping system. The RUE values were 3.10 and 3.19gMJ−1 for maize in I62 and I124, respectively, lower than that for the maize sole-cropping system (3.51gMJ−1). No significant difference was observed between the RUE values of intercropped and monoculture wheat. The harvest index of maize was identical in all systems, while that of the wheat was enhanced by intercropping. The grain yields of wheat in I62 and I124 were 29.2% and 10.8% higher, respectively, than that of sole wheat on per row basis and the grain yields of maize in I62 and I124 were 16.8% and 15.0% higher, respectively, than that of sole maize. Thus, increased radiation capture was the primary factor responsible for the high productivity of the wheat/maize intercropping systems. A simple model was developed to estimate radiation interception and partitioning in strip intercropping systems, considering the heterogeneity of leaf distribution in both the horizontal and vertical directions. The model may also be applicable to other strip intercropping systems.

不同水氮处理对间作作物光能截获、竞争和利用的影响

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 不同水氮处理对玉米-大豆间作群体内作物光能截获、竞争和利用的影响 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201305121020 作者: 作者单位: 中国农业科学院农田灌溉研究所/农业部作物需水与调控重点实验室,中国农业科学院农田灌溉研究所/农业部作物需水与调控重点实验室,中国农业科学院农田灌溉研究所/农业部作物需水与调控重点实验室,中国农业科学院农田灌溉研究所/农业部作物需水与调控重点实验室,中国农业科学院农田灌溉研究所/农业部作物需水与调控重点实验室,河南省焦作市广利灌区管理局,中国农业科学院农田灌溉研究所/农业部作物需水与调控重点实验室 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金项目(51109213); 公益性行业(农业)科研专项(201203077) Effects of water and nitrogen on interception, competition and utilization of radiation in a maize-soybean intercropping system Author: Affiliation: Farmland Irrigation Research Institute,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation,Ministry of Agriculture,Farmland Irrigation Research Institute,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation,Ministry of Agriculture,Farmland Irrigation Research Institute,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation,Ministry of Agriculture,Farmland Irrigation Research Institute,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation,Ministry of Agriculture,Farmland Irrigation Research Institute,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation,Ministry of Agriculture,Guangli Irrigation Authority,Jiaozuo City,Henan Province,Qinyang,Farmland Irrigation Research Institute,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation,Ministry of Agriculture Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:通过田间试验研究了不同水氮处理对玉米-大豆间作群体的光能截获、竞争与利用的影响。试验设置充分供水和水分亏缺两种水分处理以及施氮(亩施纯氮7.5 kg)和不施氮两种氮肥处理。结果表明,在生育中后期,同一氮肥处理条件下,充分供水处理间作作物的光能截获率显著高于水分亏缺处理;相同水分条件下,施氮处理间作大豆的光能截获率略高于不施氮处理,但未达到显著水平,而施氮处理间作玉米的光能截获率则显著高于不施氮处理。从播后第64天到成熟,同一氮肥处理条件下,充分供水提高了间作玉米的光能竞争比,但却降低了间作大豆的光能竞争比。从播后第73天到成熟,相同水分条件下,施氮处理间作玉米的光能竞争比显著高于不施氮处理,而大豆的光能竞争比在两个氮肥处理间则没有显著差异。充分供水条件下,施氮处理间作玉米的光能利用效率(LUE)为3.87 g/MJ,略高于不施氮处理(3.81 g/MJ);水分亏缺条件下,施氮处理间作玉米的LUE(3.86 g/MJ)比不施氮处理(3.72 g/MJ)高3.6%。充分供水条件下,施氮处理间作大豆的LUE(1.62 g/MJ)比不施氮处理(1.57 g/MJ)高3.2%;水分亏缺条件下,施氮处理间作大豆的LUE为1.55 g/MJ,与不施氮处理(1.54 g/MJ)基本相同,表明与氮肥处理相比,水分状况对大豆LUE的影响更为明显。 Abstract:The growing population is driving global demand for increased agricultural production while arable land is being lost with urbanization and degradation. Intercropping is often a reliable way of using land and other resources more effectively. Maize-soybean intercropping may raise land productivity by improving the use efficiency of water, nutrient, and radiation resources. Water and fertilizer conditions have obvious influences on canopy growth and development, thus affect radiation capture and utilization. However, few experiments were carried out to investigate effects of different water and nutrients combinations on radiation capture, competition and utilization in intercropping system. Therefore, an experiment was carried out to investigate effects of different water and nitrogen levels on radiation interception, competition and utilization in a maize-soybean strip intercropping system. The intercropping system consisted of two rows of maize and three rows of soybean flanked each other. The experiment design was consisted of 2 water levels, as sufficient water supply (soil moisture low limit was set as 75% of the field capacity) and water deficit (soil moisture low limit was set as 60% of the field capacity), and 2 nitrogen levels, as nitrogen application of 7.5 kg N per 667 m2 and no nitrogen application. The total number of treatments was 4 and 3 replications were arranged. Experimental results indicated that under same nitrogen application level, the fraction of radiation intercepted by the intercropped crops on sufficient water supply plots was higher than those on water deficit plots during the medium-late stage. Under same water level, the fraction of radiation interception of the intercropped soybean on nitrogen application plots was slightly greater than that on no nitrogen application plots, but the difference was not significant. However, the radiation interception fraction of the intercropped maize on nitrogen application plots was significantly greater than that on the no nitrogen plots. For the treatments with same nitrogen application, the radiation competition ratio of the intercropped maize increased and the radiation competition ratio of the intercropped soybean decreased as the water supply was improved during the period of 64 days after sowing to maturity. Under same water application level, the radiation competition ratio of the intercropped maize on nitrogen application plots was significantly greater than that on no nitrogen plots during the period of 73 days after sowing to maturity, while it was not significant that the difference between the radiation competition ratios of the intercropped soybean on the two nitrogen treatments. For sufficient water supply treatments, light use efficiency (LUE) of the intercropped maize was 3.87 g/MJ on nitrogen application plots, and slightly higher than that (3.81 g/MJ) on no nitrogen application plots. However, for water deficit treatments, LUE of the intercropped maize was 3.86 g/MJ on nitrogen application plots and 3.72 g/MJ on no nitrogen application plots, an increasing of 3.6%. Under sufficient water supply, LUE of the intercropped soybean on nitrogen application plots (1.62 g/MJ) was higher than that on no nitrogen application plots (1.57 g/MJ) by 3.2%, while, a LUE of 1.55 g/MJ for the intercropped soybean on nitrogen application plots was nearly same to a LUE of 1.54 g/MJ on no nitrogen application plots under water deficit. It can be deduced that the influence of water condition on LUE of intercropped soybean was more significant than that of nitrogen condition. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Evaluation of Soybean (Glycine max) Stem Vining in Maize-Soybean Relay Strip Intercropping System

Forming a method of judging the degree of soybean vining in the intercropping system is very important for estimating the shade tolerance of soybean germplasm and choosing the special soybean varieties for intercropping system. Thirty varieties were subjected to two treatments (sole and maize-soybean relay strip intercropping system) with three replications in a complete randomized block design. Light environment characteristics in two cropping systems were measured. At the beginning of the bloom stage of soybean when maize was mature, the soybean stem morphology characteristics stem length, node number, hypocotyl length, internode length, stem diameter, stem breaking strength and stem biomass were measured. The results revealed that the intercropped soybean could capture 13.8% photosynthetic active radiation at the vegetative stage, as compared with the sole crop soybean, with longer soybean main stem, internode and hypocotyl, and lower stem diameter at this stage. The relative value of agronomic traits in the sole and intercropping system could be used to calculate the vining severity index (VI) and the weighted vining index (WVI), and the latter could be used as the comprehensive index of the degree of soybean vining in the relay strip intercropping system. Based on the values of WVI, through the Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, the soybean varieties were divided into the 5 clusters, normal, mild, moderate, severe and extreme vining. Eight of the 30 varieties of soybean were normal vining grade and could be used as the parent plants to breed special varieties for intercropping.

Effects of Shade and Light Recovery on Soybean Cultivars(Lines) and Its Re-lationship with Yield in Relay Strip Intercropping System

A field experiment was conducted to compare agronomic traits during shade and light recovery periods between high yield and low yield soybean cultivars undershade net or in maize-soybean relay strip intercropping in 2013 and 2014. Twenty typical soybean varieties with different yield levels in relay cropping in south of China were used. The results showed that during shade period stem dry weight and leaf dry weight were significantly lower than those of control, the dry weight ratio of stem and leaf was 58.4% and 41.6% respectively under shade. Compared with the high yield soybeans, low yield cultivars had significantly higher decline rate of aboveground dry weight, stem length, stem length/ stem diameter, stem length/ aboveground dry weight, stem length/ leaf area and the yield was positively correlated with aboveground dry weight, and negatively correlated with stem weight ratio during shade period. During light recovery period, aboveground dry weight and leaf area increased rapidly, soybean showed more leaf weight ratio, stem dry weight and leaf dry weight were 47.7% and 52.3% respectively at 30 days after the re- covery of light. High yield soybeans had significantly higher aboveground dry weight, leaf area, stem diameter, leaf weight ratio and significantly smaller stem length/ stem diameter, stem length/aboveground dry weight, stem length/leaf area. In light reco- very duration, yield was positively correlated with aboveground dry weight, stem diameter, leaf area, and leaf weight ratio, and

Effects of Row Spacing on Crop Biomass, Root Morphology and Yield in Maize-Soybean Relay Strip Intercropping System

空间配置是影响间作套种作物生长和产量构成的关键因素之一。本研究固定玉米-大豆套作带宽200cm，玉米采用宽窄行种植，设置4个玉米窄行行距为20cm（A1）、40cm（A2）、60cm（A3）和80cm（A4）套作处理，2个玉米和大豆净作对照处理，研究行距配置对套作系统中玉米和大豆生物量、根系及产量的影响。结果表明，套作大豆冠层光合有效辐射和红光／远红光比值均低于净作，且随着玉米窄行的增加而降低。套作系统中大豆地上地下生物量、总根长、根表面积和根体积从第三节龄期（V3）N盛花期（R2）逐渐增加，但随着玉米窄行的增加而降低。套作玉米地上地下生物量从抽雄期到成熟期逐渐增加，根体积却逐渐降低，但这些参数随玉米窄行的变宽而增加。玉米和大豆在带状套作系统中产量均低于净作，且随玉米窄行的变宽，玉米产量逐渐增加，2012和2013两年最大值平均为6181kghm^-2，而大豆产量逐渐降低，两年最大值平均为1434kghm^-2，产量变化与有效株数和粒数变化密切相关。此外，玉米一大豆带状套作群体土地当量比（LER）大于1．3，最大值出现在A2处理，分别为1．59（2012年）和1．61（2013年），且最大经济收益也出现在A2处理（2年每公顷平均收益为1．93万元）。因此，合理的行距配置对玉米一大豆带状套作系统中作物的生长、产量构成和群体效益具有重要的作用。

Yield Response to Different Planting Geometries in Maize–Soybean Relay Strip Intercropping Systems

Planting geometries directly affect crop yields in intercropping systems. Two different field experiments were conducted in 2012–2013 to analyze how different planting geometries in maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] relay strip intercropping systems at 2:2 maize‐to‐soybean affect yields. Maize plants were planted in narrow‐row planting patterns, whereas soybean was planted in wide rows. The effects of bandwidth, row spacing, plant spacing, and the distance between maize and soybean rows on crop yields were studied. Total intercrop yields were higher than those of sole crop maize and soybean, and the land equivalent ratios of the intercropping systems were above 1.3. The yield of the intercropped maize increased with bandwidth reduction at the same plant density, and similar results were found with increased maize narrow‐row spacing at the same bandwidth. Plant spacing had a dominant function when the bandwidth of the intercropped soybean was >200 cm. By contrast, the distance between maize and soybean rows had a dominant function when bandwidth was <200 cm. The optimum bandwidth and maize narrow‐row spacing in maize–soybean relay intercropping systems were 200 and 40 cm, respectively. These results suggest that the appropriate reduction in the spacing of the narrow maize rows and increase in the distance between maize and soybean rows could be used to achieve high yields in maize–soybean intercropping.

Isoflavonoid Accumulation Pattern as Affected by Shading from Maize in Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in Relay Strip Intercropping System

Soybean is the most common resource of isoflavonoid in human food. Wide development of relay strip intercropped soybean has contributed to the soybean industry in China. Due to the shading from maize, growth and grain production of soybean is reduced. However, whether soybean isoflavonoid accumulation pattern is influenced in the relay strip intercropping system is still unclear. Here, we studied the accumulation patterns of soybean isoflavones in the relay strip intercropping system and sole cropping system at the per-harvest stage. The accumulation patterns of soybean isoflavones at the postharvest stage were also studied. The results indicated that accumulation patterns of soybean isoflavones of all varieties in leaf and seed in the two systems were similar, but the trend was delayed in the relay strip intercropping system compared with the sole cropping system. During the pod filling stage, the total content of isoflavone, M-type isoflavone content, G-type isoflavone content in seed in the relay strip intercropping system were lower than those in the sole cropping system. During the after-ripening period, seed isoflavone content, M-type isoflavone content, G-type isoflavone content in seed increased in both systems, but were higher in the relay strip intercropping system. The temperature and photosynthetically active radiation were significantly lower in relay intercropping than in sole cropping, while relative humidity showed the opposite trend. Path analysis showed that total isoflavone content in leaves and seeds showed a significantly positive correlation with temperature and photosynthetically active radiation, but significantly negative correlation with relative humidity. Correlation analysis between the highest isoflavone content in sole cropping or relay intercropping seeds and agronomic traits revealed a significant positive correlation between the number of both branches and pods with total isoflavone, M-type isoflavone and G-type isoflavone in both systems.

Influence of Seed Treatment with Uniconazole Powder on Soybean Growth, Photosynthesis, Dry Matter Accumulation after Flowering and Yield in Relay Strip Intercropping System

The relay strip intercropping system of wheat-corn-soybean is widely used in southwest China. However, it is hard to produce soybean stably with this system, since the growth of soybean plants is slower under shading by corn at the seedling stage, and it is compensated by accelerated growth after the symbiotic stage. Soybean plants show excessive vegetative growth due to more rain during the flowering stage, which results in fallen petals, fallen pods and lower yield. This study investigated whether seed treatment with uniconazole powder (0, 2, 4 and 8 mg kg–1 seed) suppresses excessive vegetative growth of soybean plants during the flowering stage and delays senescence of photosynthetically active leaves at the pod-setting stage. If such events are correlated with changes in photosynthesis, they may affect dry matter accumulation and seed yield in the relay stripping system. Uniconazole promoted biomass accumulation from 31 (R3) to 61 (R5) days after flowering (DAF) and seed yield. Seed treatment with uniconazole raised the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and total chlorophyll and chlorophyll a contents. In contrast, uniconazole reduced leaf area index (LAI) from 1 DAF (R1) to 46 DAF (R4) with the increase in uniconazole concentration, whereas, uniconazole significantly increased LAI at 61 DAF, and the greatest promotion occurred at 2 mg kg–1 treatment. The study clearly showed that uniconazole effectively suppressed excessive vegetative growth of soybean during flowering stage, delayed senescence of photosynthetically active leaves at pod-setting stage and induced higher yield, which were related to the changes in photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, dry matter accumulation and LAI in the relay strip intercropping system.

减量施氮对玉米-大豆套作系统下作物氮素吸收和利用效率的影响

减量施氮对玉米-大豆套作系统下作物氮素吸收和利用效率的影响

Determination of optimal strip width in strip intercropping of maize (Zea mays L.) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Northeast Iran

Intercropping is a sustainable method for crop production used to maximize utilization of available resources. The aim of this study, conducted in 2009 and 2010, was to determine an optimal strip width in maize/bean strip intercropping. Treatments evaluated in the study were contribution of different strip width and intercrops of 2 rows bean and 2 rows maize (II), 3 rows bean and 3 rows maize (III), 4 rows bean and 4 rows maize (IV), 5 rows bean and 5 rows maize (V), maize and bean monocultures. The higher than average temperature in 2010, led to decrease crop yields in that year. The climatic conditions had more effect on reduction of bean yield than maize. Radiation absorption, radiation use efficiency, biological yield, land equivalent ratio, crowding coefficient and system productivity index were greater in 2009 than in 2010. Radiation use efficiency for maize and bean were higher in 2009 than 2010 (8.9% and 17.6% respectively). The strip intercropping system enhanced radiation absorption, radiation use efficiency, biological yield, land equivalent ratio, crowding coefficient and system productivity index compared with the monoculture system. Increasing strip width from 2 to 5 rows resulted in a decrease all the criteria measured. The best strip width was with II and III strip intercropping treatments. Although biological yield in intercropping was less than in monoculture, total land productivity was improved by greater land equivalent ratio (1.39 and 1.37). This means that 39% and 37% more land was required for monoculture than intercropping to produce the same yields in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Therefore it was demonstrated that an intercropping system is more effective than a monoculture system in resource utilization. It also appears that equivalent row numbers of 3 and 4 for each crop in a strip manner is more promising in resource use than other combination of rows.

Understanding interactions between cropping pattern, maize cultivar and the local environment in strip-intercropping systems

Strip-intercropping systems combine the possibility to increase productivity and resource-use-efficiency with the facilitation to accommodate machinery. In strip-intercropping systems with maize, competition for light strongly influences the total productivity. Therefore, we studied plant growth and yield formation in maize grown in strips with a neighboring, shorter crop (e.g. bush bean) over three growing seasons in the North China Plain (NCP) with irrigation and over four growing seasons in south-western Germany without irrigation. The chosen locations represented different latitudes, weather, and management conditions. Based on these data, interactions between the local environment, mainly radiation and water availability, and the planted maize cultivars were investigated. Further, a light partitioning model was used to study the effect of strip width, maize canopy height and leaf area index (LAI), latitude, and sky conditions on the light availability across the strip of bush bean over the co-growing period with maize. Experimental results showed an increase of maize yield in border rows in years with sufficient water supply. On average, maize yields calculated for strips consisting of 18 to four rows showed an increase by 3 to 12% at the German and 5 to 24% at the Chinese sites, respectively. Among the three cultivars included in this study, yield in border rows increased mainly by a larger number of kernels per plant. Those were achieved by a larger number of ears per plant in the German cultivars and by larger number of kernels per ear in the Chinese cultivar, respectively. Simulations of the light availability across the strip of the neighboring, shorter bush bean crop indicated that increasing the strip width might only reduce shading in the border rows when the bush bean is grown at lower latitudes under a high fraction of direct radiation. When grown at higher latitudes, the selection of a maize cultivar with reduced height and LAI are suitable options to increase the light availability for the shorter crop. However, shade levels in the border rows of the shorter crop remain high at around 25%. For the future improvement of the productivity of strip-intercropping systems, the selection of suitable maize cultivars and shade-tolerant cultivars and species will be decisive.

Agroeconomic evaluation of intercropping rocket and carrot by uni- and multivariate analyses in a semi-arid region of Brazil

The emergence of new vegetable cultivars enables the development of novel combinations of intercrops. Producers require information and comparative data on the behavior of these cultivars in intercropping agroecosystems to learn which crops can combine well and can consequently provide higher productivity and agroeconomic efficiency. This study evaluated the agroeconomic performance of two carrot and two rocket cultivars in a strip-intercropping system, with two harvests of rocket, under the hot and sunny conditions of the municipality of Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, in northeastern Brazil. The experiments used a randomized complete block design with five replicates and treatments arranged in a 2×2 factorial scheme. The treatments were the four possible combinations of two carrot cultivars (Brasília and Esplanada) and two rocket cultivars (Cultivada and Folha Larga). Each block contained plots of these four treatments and four monocultured plots, one for each carrot and rocket cultivar, for evaluating the efficiencies of the intercropping indices. Each treatment was evaluated for commercial productivity of carrots, green mass yield of rocket, land equivalent ratio, productive efficiency index, gross income, net income, rate of return and profit margin. Intercropping of the rocket cultivar Folha Larga and the carrot cultivar Brasilia is recommended. The multivariate analysis of the vegetable crop yields as compared to the univariate analysis of land equivalent ratio and productive efficiency index was quite effective in the discrimination of the carrot cultivars in the intercropping systems. However, this same method of multivariate analysis applied to the yields of the same vegetable crops when compared to the univariate analysis of the same indices was not effective in the discrimination of the rocket cultivars in the intercropping systems.

Effect of Nitrogen Application Methods on Crop Yield and Grain Filling Characteristics of Maize in Maize-Soybean Relay Strip Intercropping System

Effect of Nitrogen Application Methods on Crop Yield and Grain Filling Characteristics of Maize in Maize-Soybean Relay Strip Intercropping System

Application and Theory of the Corn-soybean Strip Intercropping System in Southwest China

Application and Theory of the Corn-soybean Strip Intercropping System in Southwest China