Resource-use maximisation through legume intercropping with maize in the eastern Himalayan region of India

Abstract

Intercropping provides opportunity to harness available resources. Thus, maize intercropped with soybean or peanut (groundnut) was tested with 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 1 : 5 row proportions along with sole plantings of each crop to measure resource capture and resource-use efficiency. Results revealed that sole peanut had 60% higher maize-equivalent yield and 55% better production efficiency, followed by the 1 : 5 row proportion of maize–peanut, over sole maize. Intercropping increased land-use efficiency by 17–53% and land-equivalent coefficient by 0.21–0.56. The relative crowding coefficient was 39% higher with 1 : 2 maize–soybean, whereas the monetary advantage index was the highest (US$107) with the 1 : 5 maize–peanut. Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) uptakes by maize were 42.9% and 38.2%, respectively, higher with 1 : 5 maize–soybean, whereas phosphorus (P) uptake was 64% higher with 1 : 5 maize–peanut. However, the least amounts of N, P and K were mined overall with 1 : 5 of maize–soybean. Soil moisture content was improved by 24% and solar radiation interception by 37.8% with soybean alone over maize alone, and these parameters increased with higher row proportions of soybean. The energy parameters also improved with the 1 : 5 row proportions of maize–soybean or peanut intercropping. This study provides a basis for efficient resource use by maize–soybean (or peanut) intercropping system.

Designing intercrops for high yield, yield stability and efficient use of resources: Are there principles?

“…The K acquisition of three intercropping systems was enhanced by 22.5% comparable with the values expected based on the higher biomass production compared to sole crops (Wang et al, 2015b). This greater K acquisition in line with biomass overyielding has been observed more often (Choudhary et al, 2016;Singh and Ahlawat, 2012). Analyzing dynamics over the season Zhang et al (2017) observe that cumulative K acquisition (per unit area basis) of intercropped crops was significantly lower than that of sole crops during early growth stages, and gradually showed higher K acquisition toward harvest.…”

Growth and yield of maize in t’sen, a local wisdom of planting in one planting hole, typical cropping pattern of West Timor's

“…Under mixed cropping conditions, plants experience stress in the form of abiotic stresses such as light, nutrients, water, light and temperature, and biotic stress due to the presence of other plants and pests, or even a high concentration of heavy metals (Choudhary et al 2016;Dhar et al 2013;Taberima et al 2020;Wang et al 2017). In this study, all plants were under stress due to the marginal conditions of the growing media (without additional fertilization) and the limited supply of water.…”

Effect of plant population and row orientation on crop yield under sorghum-cowpea intercropping systems in semi-arid Zimbabwe

“…Intercropping was found to be more beneficial (indicated by LER greater than a unit) in less fertile fields and more marginal environments compared to fertile fields (Kermah et al (2017). Choudhary et al (2016) observed that intercropping increased land-use efficiency by 17-53 % and produced a LER of 1.21-1.56.…”