Strip Intercropping Research Articles

Temporal complementarity drives species combinability in strip intercropping in the Netherlands

Temporal complementarity drives species combinability in strip intercropping in the Netherlands

Inter-specific root interactions and water use efficiency of maize/soybean relay strip intercropping

Inter-specific root interactions and water use efficiency of maize/soybean relay strip intercropping

Rotational strip intercropping of maize and peanut enhances productivity by improving crop photosynthetic production and optimizing soil nutrients and bacterial communities

Rotational strip intercropping of maize and peanut enhances productivity by improving crop photosynthetic production and optimizing soil nutrients and bacterial communities

Biochar and biofertilizer reduced nitrogen input and increased soybean yield in the maize soybean relay strip intercropping system

Applying Biochar (BC) or biofertilizers (BF) are potential approaches to reduce the nitrogen input and mitigate soil degradation in the maize soybean relay strip intercropping system (IS). In 2019 and 2020, a two-factor experiment was carried out to examine the effects of BC and BF on soil productivity and yield production in IS. 4 N input levels (8.4, 22.5, 45 kg, and 67.5 kg ha − 1) referred to as N0, N1, N2, and N3 were paired with various organic treatments, including BC (150 kg ha − 1), BF (300 kg ha − 1), and without organic amendments (CK). The results demonstrated that, despite BF decreasing the biomass and N distribution into grains, BF performed better on improved soybean yield (5.2–8.5%) by increasing the accumulation of soybean biomass (7.2 ~ 11.6%) and N (7.7%). Even though BC and BF have a detrimental effect on soybean nitrogen fixation by reducing nodule number and weight, the values of soybean nitrogenase activity and nitrogen fixation potential in BF were higher than those in BC. Additionally, BF performs better at boosting the soil’s nitrogen content and nitrate reductase and urease activity. BF increased the concentration of total N, soil organic matter, Olsen-phosphorus, and alkaline hydrolyzable N in the soil by 13.0, 17.1, 22.0, and 7.4%, respectively, compared to CK. Above all, applying BF combination with N2 (45 kg ha − 1 N) is a feasible strategy to raise crop grain output and keep soil productivity over the long term in IS.

Effect of row spacing under maize-soybean relay intercropping system on yield, competition, and economic returns

Interrow spacing of intercrop species directly affects yield and competition indices such as land equivalent ratio of intercropping. The objectives of this research were to analyze (i) the maize and soybean yields under different spatial arrangements in maize-soybean relay strip intercropping (MSR) and (ii) the interspecies competition to provide a basis for optimization of rowspacing in MSR. The field trial was conducted in 2011 and 2012 at the Research Farm of the Sichuan Agricultural University in Ya'an to determine the impacts of various interrow planting distances on yield and competition indices in cereal (maize crop)-legume (soybean crop) relay strip intercropping. Three planting arrangements were utilized based on the distance between maize-maize, maize-soybean, and soybean-soybean as (T1) 50, 40, and 70 cm, (T2) 50, 50, and 50 cm, and (T3) 50, 60, and 30 cm, respectively, and comparison was made with the sole maize (SM) and sole soybean (SSB). Experimental results revealed that grain yield of maize crop was improved with enhancing row spaces between maize and soybean, while "low-high-low" trend was observed for soybean yield in T$_{1}$, T$_{2}$, and T3, respectively, in both years. Competitive ratio, aggressivity, and relative crowding coefficient were consistently greater for maize than soybean in all treatments. The highest LER (1.67) was reported in T$_{2}$ treatment, which was 9% and 4% higher than in T$_{1}$ and T$_{3}$, respectively. Higher LER explains that both crops are facilitating each other in a positive way and increase the average net income of T$_{2}$ as compared to T$_{1}$ and T$_{3}$. Enhancing distance between maize-soybean rows with reducing distance between soybean rows put pressure on soybean due to intraspecific competition. Combined results of competitive indices and economic analysis showed that intercrops performed at their maximum in treatment T$_{2}$. Therefore, the maximum intercropping advantages can be achieved by changing the row spacing, which determines the competitive relationship and productivity of MSR.

Effect of different planting pattern arrangements on soil organic matter and soil nitrogen content under a maize/soybean strip relay intercropping system.

Assessing the spatial distribution of organic matter and total nitrogen in soil is essential for management and optimum utilization of fertilizers. Therefore, the present field experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of different planting pattern arrangements on the spatial distribution of soil total nitrogen and organic matter content under a maize/soybean strip relay intercropping system. The planting was arranged in a manner such that soil sampling could be done from continuous maize/soybean relay strip intercropping (MS1), maize/soybean relay strip intercropping in rotation (MS2), traditional maize/soybean intercropping (MS3), sole maize (M), sole soybean (S), and fallow land (FL) from 2018 to 2020. The results showed significant variations for soil organic matter and total nitrogen content under different planting pattern arrangements of maize and soybean in the strip relay intercropping system. Across all systems, the highest soil organic matter (29.19 g/kg) and total nitrogen (10.19 g/kg) were recorded in MS2. In contrast, the lowest soil organic matter (1.69 g/kg) and total nitrogen (0.64 g/kg) were observed in FL. Soil organic matter and total nitrogen in MS2 increased by 186.45% and 164.06%, respectively, when compared with FL. Soil organic matter and total nitrogen in MS2 increased by 186.45% and 164.06%, respectively, when compared with FL. Furthermore, under MS2, the spatial distribution of soil organic matter was higher in both maize and soybean crop rows as compared with other cropping patterns, whereas the soil total nitrogen was higher under soybean rows as compared with maize in all other treatment. However, correlation analysis of the treatments showed variations in organic matter content. It can be concluded that different planting patterns can have varying effects on soil organic matter and total nitrogen distribution under the strip relay intercropping system. Moreover, it is recommended from this study that MS2 is a better planting pattern for the strip relay intercropping system, which can increase the spatial distribution of soil organic matter and total nitrogen, thereby improving soil fertility, C:N ratio, and crop production. This study will serve as a foundation towards the scientific usage of chemical fertilizers in agricultural sector.

Optimizing Maize Belt Width Enhances Productivity in Wheat/Maize Intercropping Systems

Wheat/maize intercropping has been widely practiced in northwestern China. It is crucial to optimize the canopy structure and geometric configurations to enhance the performance of the system. This research determined the responses of intercrops to the different canopy structures created by the different wheat/maize intercropping systems. Field experiments were carried out in 2012, 2013, and 2014 at Wuwei, Gansu. Three intercropping patterns—six rows of wheat alternated with two rows of maize (6W2M), six rows of wheat alternated with three rows of maize (6W3M), and six rows of wheat alternated with four rows of maize (6W4M)—were compared with sole wheat and sole maize. The results showed that maize plant heights differed between the inner rows and the border rows, and the difference was greater for the 6W3M system than for the 6W4M system. The three intercropping systems had an average land-use equivalent ratio (LER, calculated based on grain yield) of 1.25, indicating an increase in land-use efficiency by 25% compared to the corresponding sole crops. The shape of maize strips in 6W3M optimized the canopy structure and increased the productivity of wheat and maize. The wheat in 6W3M had significantly more grain yield compared with the sole wheat and the 6W2M due to the maize belt shape, which resulted in the soil evaporation negatively affecting the intercropped wheat grain yield of the 6W3M. Similarly, the maize belt shape facilitated the light penetration and enhanced the reproductive growth by increasing the two cobs per plant rate (TCR) of the maize. The highest TCR of the 6W3M produced a higher maize grain yield than the 6W2M and sole maize in the three growing seasons. The maize belt width in the strip intercropping system had a significant effect on the grain yield of both wheat and maize, which reduced water evaporation, harmonized light distribution, and increased productivity.

Effects of Different Soybean and Maize Mixed Proportions in a Strip Intercropping System on Silage Fermentation Quality

Soybean (Glycine max Merr.), with a high nutritional value, is an important oil crop and a good protein feed crop. Due to the shortage of high-protein feed and the high import pressure on soybean, scarce high-protein feed is the main research target for improving feed quality. High-quality soybean (Qihuang 34) and high-yield silage maize (Zea mays L.) (Jingling silage 386) varieties were used as the experimental materials in this study. The silage quality and the microbial community of the mixed silage of soybean and maize were analyzed, and the compatible intercropping ratios of maize–soybean mixed silage were evaluated. This experiment designed five strip intercropping systems (SIS) in a randomized block. The intercropping row ratios of maize and soybean were 0:1 (pure soybean, S), 1:0 (pure maize, M), 1:1 (MS1), 1:3 (MS2), and 1:5 (MS3). Dry matter yield and fresh matter yield were improved in the treatments of MS1 and MS2. In the mixed silage systems of maize and soybean, with an increase in soybean proportion, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents gradually increased, but the contents of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and dry matter (DM) reduced to different degrees (p < 0.05). Moreover, the soybean silage alone had a poor fermentation performance, as indicated by high pH, high acetic acid (AA), propionic acid (PA), butyric acid (BA), and ammonia-N (NH3-N) concentrations, and low lactic acid (LA) concentration. By contrast, the mixed silage materials were conducive to reducing the pH, PA, BA, and NH3-N, and increasing the LA content. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Weissella in the MS were higher, and the abundance of undesirable bacteria were lower than in the S. The MS2 materials had the lowest pH, the highest LA concentration, and the highest relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Weissella among the three mixed silage groups. Therefore, the mixed silage in the SIS modified the microbial communities and improved the feed fermentation quality while increasing yields. The better intercropping ratio of maize–soybean mixed silage was 1:3. These results could provide a theoretical basis for the wide application and popularization of soybean as a high-protein silage forage source.

Maize/soybean strip intercropping enhances crop yield in rain-fed agriculture under the warming climate: a modeling approach

Maize/soybean strip intercropping enhances crop yield in rain-fed agriculture under the warming climate: a modeling approach

Strip Intercrop of Barley, Wheat, Triticale, Oat, Pea and Yellow Lupine—A Meta-Analysis

The simultaneous sowing of two or more species in the same field without a fixed location in relation to each other—mixed intercropping—is associated with the problem of optimizing agrotechnics for plants with different requirements and instability of the composition of the crop. An alternative which eliminates these problems can be strip intercropping. Based on the published results of seven long-term field experiments aimed at understanding the proximity effect of various species in strip intercropping, a mathematical simulation of strip intercropping production effects was performed: oat/lupine, barley/pea, wheat/pea, triticale/pea, wheat/barley, wheat/triticale, and triticale/barley. The simulation takes into account different widths of the strips and the possibility of their separation by a path. The yield of strip intercropping consisting of cereals and legumes was similar to the average yield of both components grown in single-species crops. Separating the cereal from the legume plant by a path did not have a major effect on the total yield; however, it increased the share of the legume plant in the yield. The width of the strips was also important in terms of yield and the share of individual species in the yield, especially when strips were separated by a path. Taking into account the level of yield and the technical possibilities of optimizing agrotechnics for each of the components separately, as well as the possibility of separate harvesting, then strip intercropping and strip intercropping separated by paths, with 3 m wide strips, are justified. The analysis of the results showed that the formation of strip intercropping or strip intercropping separated by paths consisting of only two species of cereals does not bring production benefits when compared to monoculture of the individual components.

Straw incorporation and nitrogen reduction effect on the uptake and use efficiency of nitrogen as well as soil CO2 emission of relay strip intercropped soybean.

Intercropping can increase crop N uptake and reduce carbon emissions. However, the effects of straw incorporation and N reduction on N use and carbon emissions in intercropping are still unclear. We explored the mechanism of N uptake, N use efficiency, and CO2 emissions in the wheat-maize-soybean relay strip intercropping system. A two-year field experiment was conducted with two straw managements, i.e., wheat straw incorporation (SI) and straw removal (SR), and four N application levels of soybean, i.e., 60 (N60), 30 (N30), 15 (N15), and 0 kg N ha-1 (N0). We assessed soil properties, CO2 emissions, and characteristics of roots, nodules, and aboveground N uptake of intercropped soybean. Results showed that geometry mean diameter of aggregate, soil porosity, soil total N, and soil urease activity were notably greater in SI than in SR. N input reduced from N60 to N30 did not significantly affect the soil total N content and urease activity in SI. The root length, root surface area, root volume, root biomass, root bleeding intensity, and inorganic N content of bleeding sap were greater in SI than in SR. In the SI, although the root length and surface area peaked at N60, the root biomass and inorganic N content of bleeding sap were insignificant between N60 and N30. The nodule number, nodule dry weight, nodule nitrogenase activity, and nodule nitrogen fixation potential in SI were notably increased compared with SR. The nodule nitrogen fixation potential in SI notably increased with the decrease of N input at the R3 stage, but it peaked in N30 at the R5 stage. On average, the aboveground N uptake and nitrogen recovery efficiency (RE) was notably higher by 43.7% and 76.8% in SI than in SR. SI+N30 achieved the greatest aboveground N uptake and RE. The CO2 emission and accumulated CO2 emission were notably greater in SI than in SR, and the accumulated CO2 emission of SI was the lowest with N30 input. In conclusion, SI+N30 promoted N uptake and utilization efficiency with reduced CO2 emissions during the soybean cropping season. It provides a potential strategy for sustainable agricultural development in intercropping systems.

Maize/soybean strip intercropping produces higher crop yields and saves water under semi-arid conditions.

Sustainable increases in crop production require efficient use of resources, and intercropping can improve water use efficiency and land productivity at reduced inputs. Thus, in a three-year field experiment, the performance of maize/soybean strip intercropping system differing with maize plant density (6 maize plants m-2, low, D1; 8 maize plants m-2, medium, D2; and 10 maize plants m-2, high, D3) was evaluated in comparison with sole maize or soybean cropping system. Results revealed that among all intercropping treatments, D2 had a significantly higher total leaf area index (maize LAI + soybean LAI; 8.2), total dry matter production (maize dry matter + soybean dry matter; 361.5g plant-1), and total grain yield (maize grain yield + soybean grain yield; 10122.5kg ha-1) than D1 and D3, and also higher than sole maize (4.8, 338.7g plant-1, and 9553.7kg ha-1) and sole soybean (4.6, 64.8g plant-1, and 1559.5kg ha-1). The intercropped maize was more efficient in utilizing the radiation and water, with a radiation use efficiency of 3.5, 5.2, and 4.3g MJ-1 and water use efficiency of 14.3, 16.2, and 13.3kg ha-1 mm-1, while that of intercropped soybean was 2.5, 2.1, and 1.8g MJ-1 and 2.1, 1.9, and 1.5kg ha-1 mm-1 in D1, D2, and D3, respectively. In intercropping, the land and water equivalent ratios ranged from 1.22 to 1.55, demonstrating that it is a sustainable strategy to improve land and water use efficiencies; this maximization is likely associated with the species complementarities for radiation, water, and land in time and space, which resulted in part from competition avoidance responses that maximize the economic profit (e. g., 1300 US $ ha-1 in D2) over sole maize (798 US $ ha-1) or sole soybean (703 US $ ha-1). Overall, these results indicate that optimizing strip intercropping systems can save 20-50% of water and land, especially under the present scenario of limited resources and climate change. However, further research is required to fully understand the resource capture mechanisms of intercrops in intercropping.

The biodiversity of weed communities of dent maize, narrow-leaved lupin and oat in relation to cropping system and weed control

The aim of the experiment was to assess the effect of cropping system and as well as various methods of weed control on the biodiversity of the weed community of dent maize, narrow-leaved lupine and spring oat. The data used in the study came from a three year field experiment carried out at the Experimental Station in south-eastern Poland (50°42'N, 23°16'E). The following factors were studied: 1. Cropping system – sole cropping and strip intercropping; 2. Weed control – mechanical and chemical. Changes in the diversity of the segetal flora are analysed using the species richness index (S), the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H’), the Margalef index (R), the Simpson dominance index (D) and Pielou’s evenness index (J’). The use of chemical weed control increased the diversity of the weed community in all species tested compared to mechanical weed regulation. Chemical weed regulation significantly decreased the value of Simpson dominance index due to the limitation of the occurrence of dominant weed species. Strip intercropping increased weed biodiversity, however, the influence of cropping systems depended on the crop species and the weed controlmethod used.

Maize-soybean relay strip intercropping reshapes the rhizosphere bacterial community and recruits beneficial bacteria to suppress Fusarium root rot of soybean.

Rhizosphere microbes play a vital role in plant health and defense against soil-borne diseases. Previous studies showed that maize-soybean relay strip intercropping altered the diversity and composition of pathogenic Fusarium species and biocontrol fungal communities in the soybean rhizosphere, and significantly suppressed soybean root rot. However, whether the rhizosphere bacterial community participates in the regulation of this intercropping on soybean root rot is not clear. In this study, the rhizosphere soil of soybean healthy plants was collected in the continuous cropping of maize-soybean relay strip intercropping and soybean monoculture in the fields, and the integrated methods of microbial profiling, dual culture assays in vitro, and pot experiments were employed to systematically investigate the diversity, composition, and function of rhizosphere bacteria related to soybean root rot in two cropping patterns. We found that intercropping reshaped the rhizosphere bacterial community and increased microbial community diversity, and meanwhile, it also recruited much richer and more diverse species of Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp., Streptomyces sp., and Microbacterium sp. in soybean rhizosphere when compared with monoculture. From the intercropping, nine species of rhizosphere bacteria displayed good antagonism against the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum B3S1 of soybean root rot, and among them, IRHB3 (Pseudomonas chlororaphis), IRHB6 (Streptomyces), and IRHB9 (Bacillus) were the dominant bacteria and extraordinarily rich. In contrast, MRHB108 (Streptomyces virginiae) and MRHB205 (Bacillus subtilis) were the only antagonistic bacteria from monoculture, which were relatively poor in abundance. Interestingly, introducing IRHB3 into the cultured substrates not only significantly promoted the growth and development of soybean roots but also improved the survival rate of seedlings that suffered from F. oxysporum infection. Thus, this study proves that maize-soybean relay strip intercropping could help the host resist soil-borne Fusarium root rot by reshaping the rhizosphere bacterial community and driving more beneficial microorganisms to accumulate in the soybean rhizosphere.

Appropriate bandwidth achieves a high yield by reducing maize intraspecific competition in additive maize–soybean strip intercropping

Maize–soybean strip intercropping can effectively alleviate arable land competition, improve land output, and be conducive to the sustainable development. The key to achieve these advantages is to stabilize the maize yield. Suitable narrow row spacing could maximize the benefit of maize–soybean strip intercropping, and an increasing bandwidth with suitable narrow row spacing is beneficial to the mechanized production of soybean. In practice, to ensure the maize yield in additive maize strip intercropping, maize plant spacing decreases and intraspecific competition intensifies as the bandwidth increases. However, interspecific interactions have been the primary focus of studies because of the better rhizosphere nitrogen fixation ability of soybean and the activation of maize rhizosphere nutrients. Therefore, it is particularly urgent to identify the trade-offs between intraspecific competition and interspecific interactions in maize and the regulatory effects on maize yield. Field experiments were conducted from 2017 to 2020 to analyze the results of interindividual competition in maize and interactions with soybeans under different bandwidths. It was found that maize biomass and yield at the maturity stage decreased by 8.0% and 6.4%; 20.5% and 19.4%; and 28.7% and 44.1% from 2 m to 2.8 m, respectively, but the biomass proportion in ears showed no significant difference. Intraspecific competition of maize was weakened by special promotion in intercropping, but stable yield was achieved only at 2 m. In response to suitable competition, maize roots can flourish only on the basis of ensuring aboveground biomass. The results revealed that the primary negative determinant of maize yield was intraspecific aboveground competition and strengthening intraspecific competition reduced biomass accumulation without altering the allocation ratio to the ear. We concluded that maize yield was guaranteed at 2 m due to the special strip planting design compensated for the enhanced intraspecific competition of maize aboveground parts in the additive maize–soybean strip intercropping system.

Soil Organic Matter, Aggregates, and Microbial Characteristics of Intercropping Soybean under Straw Incorporation and N Input

Soil organic matter (SOM), soil aggregates, and soil microbes play key roles in agriculture soil fertility. In intercropping systems, the influences of straw incorporation and N input on the dynamics of soil physicochemical and microbial properties and their relationships are still unclear. We explore the changes in soil physicochemical and microbial properties with two straw managements, i.e., wheat straw incorporation (SI) and straw removal (SR), and four N supply rates for intercropped soybean, i.e., 60 (N60), 30 (N30), 15 (N15), and 0 (N0) kg N ha−1, in the wheat–maize–soybean relay strip intercropping systems. The results showed that SOM and SOM fractions contents, soil macroaggregate stability, and microbial and fungal α-diversity, e.g., Chao1 and Shannon indices, increased through straw incorporation and N input. The α-diversity was significantly positively correlated with soil physicochemical characteristics. Compared with SR, the relative abundance of ActinobacteriaandMortierellomycota in SI increased, but the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Ascomycota in SI decreased. In SI treatment, soil physicochemical characteristics and microbial diversity improved through N input, but that difference was not significant between N60 and N30. In conclusion, SI+N30 was the most effective way to maintain soil fertility and reduce the N fertilizer input in the wheat–maize–soybean relay strip intercropping.

Yield advantage and carbon footprint of oat/sunflower relay strip intercropping depending on nitrogen fertilization

Yield advantage and carbon footprint of oat/sunflower relay strip intercropping depending on nitrogen fertilization

Exploitation of neighbouring subsoil for nutrient acquisition under annual-perennial strip intercropping systems

Little is known how the deep root systems of perennial crops contribute to deeper and better resource use when intercropped with annuals in arable fields. Therefore, we aimed at measuring the capacity of deep-rooted perennials, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and curly dock (Rumex crispus L.) to access nutrients located under neighboring annuals at 1.0 and 2.5 m of soil depth. Alfalfa and curly dock were able to access the tracer sources (15N and Cs) placed at a distance farther than 0.4 m under the annual crop strips. As a result, the reliance on deeper soil layers for nutrient uptake by the crops grown at the borders became greater compared with the crops grown in the mid-strips. Combination of an annual cereal (winter rye) and a perennial legume (alfalfa) having contrasting root systems exhibited higher resource complementarity compared with intercroppings having more similar root systems or in the absence of legumes. Our results demonstrated that the deep-rooted perennials, when intercropped with annuals, can induce vertical niche complementarity, especially at deeper soil layers. This was assumed to be due to the differences in rooting depth and deep root activity the crop components, however, the magnitude of the effects depended on choice of crop combinations, and on types of tracers used in the study.

Maize-peanut rotational strip intercropping improves peanut growth and soil properties by optimizing microbial community diversity.

Rotational strip intercropping (RSI) of cereals and legumes has been developed and widely carried out to alleviate continuous cropping obstacles, to control erosion and to improve field use efficiency. In this study, a four-year fixed-field experiment was carried out in northeast China with three treatments: continuous cropping of maize, continuous cropping of peanuts and rotational strip intercropping of maize and peanut. The results show that crop rotation improved the main-stem height, branch number, lateral branch length, and yield and quality of peanuts; the yield was the highest in 2018, when it was increased by 39.5%. RSI improved the contents of total N, available N, total P, available P, total K and available K; the content of available N was the highest in 2018, with an increase of 70%. Rhizosphere soil urease and catalase activities were significantly increased and were the highest in 2017, reaching 183.13% and 91.21%, respectively. According to a high-throughput sequencing analysis, the rhizosphere soil bacterial richness and specific OTUs decreased in peanut rhizosphere soil, while the fungal increased. There were differences in the bacterial and fungal community structures; specifically, the abundance of Acidobacteria and Planctomycetes increased among bacteria and the abundance of beneficial microorganisms such as Ascomycota increased among fungi. In conclusion, rotational strip intercropping of maize and peanut increased the yield and quality of peanuts and conducive to alleviating the obstacles facing the continuous cropping of peanuts. Among then, soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activity and microbial diversity were significantly affected the yield of peanut.

Evaluation of Performance of Improved Cowpea Varieties in Cowpea-maize Strip Intercropping in Bela-Bela, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Background: Mixed intercropping is the commonly practiced cropping system but it is unproductive with a low return on investment. This study was conducted at the Bela-Bela region of Limpopo province, South Africa to assess the performance of improved cowpea varieties in a cowpea-maize strip intercropping in comparison with farmers’ traditional cropping practice (mixed intercropping). Strip intercropping is a novel productive cropping system and its productivity has not been tested in study region. There is a dire need to test the productivity of this important novel cropping system practice in the region. Methods: Five cowpea varieties (TVu 13464, IT86D-1010, Glenda, IT82E-16 and IT87K-499-35) and maize were planted under strip intercropping, monocropping and mixed intercropping as control treatments. Data were collected on growth and yield parameters and were analyzed using Genstat software 20.1. Result: Strip intercropping significantly improved the yield attributes and land equivalent ratio (LER) of the varieties as compared to the mixed intercropping. Strip intercropping significantly enhanced the grain yield and land equivalent ratio (LER) of IT82E-16, IT86D-1010, TVu 13464 and IT87K-499-35 as compared to Glenda. Adoption of strip intercropping and the high-yielding varieties will enhance crop diversity, food security, and nutrition in Limpopo Province.