Distribution and Use Efficiency of Photosynthetically Active Radiation in Strip Intercropping of Maize and Soybean

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Shangqiu Agro‐Ecosystem Experimental Station in 2006–2008 to investigate the distribution and use efficiency of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). The soil was classified as a Eutric Cambisol. Four treatments were compared: (i) sole crop maize (Zea mays L.) (SM); (ii) sole crop soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (SSB); (iii) three rows of soybean alternated with one row of maize (I1); and (iv) three rows of soybean alternated with two rows of maize (I2). Observed fraction of radiation intercepted (F), radiation use efficiency (RUE), and harvest index (HI) revealed that PAR transmittance at the bottom of the soybean canopy adjacent to the maize was higher than that farther from the maize. However, this difference decreased as the crops developed. The averaged extinction coefficient (K) and RUE were 0.51 and 2.82 g MJ−1 for I1 and 0.50 and 2.78 g MJ−1 for I2, respectively, compared with 0.46 and 3.18 g MJ−1 for sole crop maize and 0.59 and 1.55 g MJ−1 for sole crop soybean. The HI of I1 and I2 were 0.45 and 0.44 for maize and 0.35 and 0.36 for soybean, respectively. The HI of sole crop maize and sole crop soybean were 0.42 and 0.40, respectively. The mean land equivalent ratio (LER) for I1 and I2 was 1.65 and 1.71, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that intercropping usually had greater RUE than sole cropping, which may account for the yield advantage of intercropping.

Response of Maize Grown Under High Plant Density; Performance, Issues and Management - A Critical Review

“…For 4500 years, maize has had a important role in the lives and the development of the cultural history of the peoples of world [6]. High plant density is a good strategy to obtain high yield [7,8] to meet the current and future food necessities of high population and their rising dietary needs [9]. Improvement in corn yield is dependent on its genetic characteristics, morph-physiological behaviour and its interaction with the environment [10].…”

Effect of Plant Revitalization Hormone and Foliar Fertilization on Growth and Yield of Boro Rice

“…At the current growth of population rice requirement increases dramatically and many nations are facing second-generation challenge of producing more rice at less cost in a deteriorating environment. To meet the current and future food requirements of increasing population and their rising dietary needs it is necessary to boost up crop yields (Gao et al, 2010). Therefore, yield boosting agronomic techniques such as; application of certain plant growth regulators, foliar feeding need due attention.…”

Rendimento forrageiro da rebrota do sorgo em sistema de produção consorciado com soja

“…Outros autores também encontraram vantagem com a utilização do sistema consorciado quando comparado ao monocultivo (Corte et al, 2003;Rezende et al, 2004;Ghosh et al, 2009). O consórcio de plantas geralmente é capaz de aumentar a produtividade do agroecossistema através da maior eficiência de uso dos recursos disponíveis, tais como a radiação fotossintética ativa (Gao et al, 2010) e água (Machado, 2009), representando alta vantagem sobre o monocultivo, principalmente para os pequenos produtores rurais.…”

“…Comparando-se os rendimentos de proteína bruta do sistema consorciado (153 kg ha -1 ) com o monocultivo (129 kg ha -1 ), observou-se aumento de 18,6 % (24 kg ha -1 ) entre os dois sistemas (teste de F, a 5 % de probabilidade). Esta diferença pode ser atribuída ao aporte suplementar de nitrogênio proporcionado pelo cultivo da soja que, por meio da fixação biológica, aumenta a disponibilidade do elemento no agroecossistema (Ghosh et al, 2009).…”

“…Os sistemas consorciados são promissores na agricultura moderna visando ao aumento da eficiência de uso dos recursos naturais, mitigação de efeitos deletérios ao meio ambiente e aumento da lucratividade dos produtores (Machado, 2009;Ghosh et al, 2009;Obalum & Obi, 2010). Entretanto, ainda não há recomendações agronômicas consolidadas de manejo de tais sistemas.…”