Growth, Yield and Land Use Efficiency of Corn and Legumes Grown under Intercropping Systems

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of Khon Kaen University in 2001. The objectives of this study were to investigate growth, yield and yield components of corn, peanut, soybean and mungbean under intercropping and single cropping, as well as to assess the land use efficiency. Yield and yield components of corn was unaffected by intercropping system. In legume crops; peanut, soybean and mungbean, intercropping systems reduced the leaf area and top dry weight per plant as compared with single cropping. Grain yield of peanut, soybean and mungbean was reduced by 28%, 39% and 51 %, respectively, as compared with single cropping. The pod number per plant was the most affected by intercropping among the yield components. However, corn-legume intercropping increased land use efficiency by 48% to 66% depending on legume species. Corn-peanut intercropping gave the highest land use efficiency. The effects of light penetration and nutrient competition are discussed.

Effect of Two Patterns of Intercropping Soybean with Maize on Yield and Its Components under Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Levels

“…Also shading by the taller maize plants under the intercropping patterns. This shading could reduce the photosynthetic rate of the lower growing plants and thereby reduce their yields as reported by Zhuang & Yu-Bi (2013) and Polthanee & Trelo-ges (2003).…”

Seed Treatment with Uniconazole Powder Improves Soybean Seedling Growth under Shading by Corn in Relay Strip Intercropping System

“…Harvest loss due to lodging has been reported to be 22% of potential yield in soybean (Noor and Caviness, 1980) and 21% in barley (Briggs, 1990). Moreover, the yield of legumes is reduced by shading when they are intercropped with corn (Chui and Shibles, 1984;Polthanee and Trelo-ges, 2003). Many reports indicate that shading or reduced light intensity conditions increase the plant height, the fi rst internode length and leaf area per plant; and reduce the stem diameter (Mancuso and Caviness, 1991;Nagasuga and Kubota, 2008;Hossain et al, 2009;Oh et al, 2009).…”

“…Corn grain yield was increased by 15 -20% by intercropping with soybean, blackgram or peanut (Singh et al, 1986). Corn-soybean, corn-mungbean and corn-peanut intercropping reduced the yield of soybean, mungbean and peanut as compared with sole cropping (Chui and Shibles, 1984;Polthanee and Trelo-ges, 2003). This is because the legumes are very sensitive to shading (Herrera and Harwood, 1973) and they were grown under shading by corn in this system, resulting in thinner stems and easier to lodging.…”

Influence of low light intensity on growth and yield of four soybean cultivars during wet and dry seasons of northeast thailand

“…The reduction in light reaching the legume canopy when intercropped with maize was about 30% -50% of the total incoming radiation and began around 30 -35 days after maize seeding [9][10][11].…”