Bandwidth Row Ratio Configuration Affect Interspecific Effects and Land Productivity in Maize–Soybean Intercropping System

Abstract

Intercropping plays an indispensable role in sustainable agriculture. The response of bandwidth row ratio configuration to crop interspecific relationships and land productivity in the maize–soybean intercropping system (MSI) is still unclear. A 2-year field experiment was conducted with sole maize (SM) and sole soybean (SS), two different bandwidths (2.4 m (B1), 2.8 m (B2)), two different maize and soybean row ratios (2:3 (R1), and 2:4 (R2)) for MSI. The results showed that intercropping had advantages for land productivity compared with sole planting. Intercropping cropping had significant differences on crop yield under different intercropping treatments. The 2-yr average land equivalent ratio (LER, 1.59) and group yield under the intercropping patterns of B1R2 were significantly higher than other intercropping treatments (p < 0.05). With a bandwidth of 2.4 m and planting four rows of intercropped soybean, the total LER and group yield increased by 7.57% and 10.42%, respectively, compared to planting three rows of soybean. Intercropped maize was the dominant species and also had a higher nutrient aggressivity than intercropped soybean. The complementarity effect was higher than the select effect in the MSI system, and intercropping advantage was mainly derived from the complementarity effect, which was significantly correlated with intercropped maize yield. Nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient aggressivity in intercropped maize showed significant correlations with group yield and intercropped maize yield. In conclusion, bandwidth 2.4 m, row ratio 2:4 was a reasonable planting pattern because of its superior land productivity, crop nutrients uptake advantage, and harmonious interspecific relationship, which could provide a reference for MSI promotion and application research.

Competition Indices of Forage Turnip Cereal Intercrops in Different Seeding Ratio

“…The land equivalent ratio (LER) was determined according to the method by Willey (1979). When LER values are <1, intercropping is disadvantageous compared to pure sowing, when LER = 1, intercropping is equal compared to pure sowing and when LER > 1, intercropping is advantageous compared to pure sowing, (Feng et al, 2022). If the AFT : 0, it is equal in both species, if the AFT is positive, forage turnip is dominant and if the AFT is negative, forage turnip is the suppressed species (Dhima et al, 2007;Lithourgidis et al, 2011).…”

Effects of narrow-wide row planting patterns on canopy photosynthetic characteristics, bending resistance and yield of soybean in maize‒soybean intercropping systems

“…Intercropping is an important way to improve the utilization efficiency of resources 3 . It can achieve adequate distribution of light, temperature, water, gas and heat 4 – 6 , promote the rational utilization of land resources 7 , and is conducive to the sustainable development of agriculture 8 . Intercropping is also an effective strategy for increasing crop yields 9 .…”

Effects of narrow-wide row planting pattern on canopy photosynthetic characteristics, bending resistance and yield of soybean in maize-soybean intercropping

“…Intercropping is an important way to improve the utilization e ciency of resources 3 . It can realize the rational distribution of light; temperature; water; gas and heat [4][5][6] , promote the rational utilization of land resources 7 , and is conducive to the sustainable development of agriculture 8 . Intercropping is also an effective strategy for increasing crop yields 9 .…”