Yield, Quality, Land Equivalent Ratio, and Economic viability of Intercropping Combinations of Summer Squash, Faba Bean and Strawberry

Abstract

Intercropping system has been reported to enhance quality and yield obtained per unit area. Therefore, the current study was carried out to assess the impact of intercropping of Zucchini or broad beans with strawberry and also, intercropping (IC) Zucchini with broad beans on growth, quality, yield and the economic viability of the studied crops in the mixed IC, compared to the mono-cropping of these crops. A field experiment was carried out during 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. According to results of this study, intercropping of strawberry with broad beans achieved significantly the highest levels of anthocyanin content in strawberry fruits compared to the other treatments in both seasons. Maximum yield of strawberry crop was obtained from sole cropping as well as that obtained from strawberry-broad beans intercropping. Intercropping of Zucchini with broad beans resulted in significantly higher yields of both crops as compared with their sole cropping. Yield of broad bean and Zucchini increased by 18.1% and 26.9% respectively as compared with their sole cropping which indicate yielding efficiency enhancement as a result of intercropping. Land equivalent ratio (LER) of strawberry-Zucchini intercropping was, on average 1.2 for both years. Whereas, with regard to strawberry-broad beans intercropping was, on average for 1.3 for both years, while it was 2.45 when Intercropping Zucchini with broad bean. Intercropping Zucchini with broad bean gave the highest relative yield for both of them compared with the other treatments and also, the highest monetary advantage index (MAI).