BIOLOGICAL N₂ FIXATION AND MINERAL N IN COMMON BEAN–MAIZE INTERCROPPING OR SOLE CROPPING IN SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Abstract

The aim of this work was to assess the effects of N levels and intercropping of two common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) varieties (Carioca and Rio Tibagi) with maize (Zea mays) on accumulated N, grain yield and biomass of both crops, and nodulation of common bean inoculated or not with Rhizobium. Two field experiments were conducted simultaneously: common bean-maize intercropping and common bean in sole cropping. Intercropping increased common bean nodulation and biomass, mainly with Rhizobium, but mineral N was deleterious to nodulation. Inoculation also increased the Carioca cultivar yield most in sole cropping (+72 %), but N levels did not affect common bean yield in either cultivar. Although intercropping reduced maize grain yield by 17 %, the equivalent yield increased by 31 %, whilst Rhizobium increased it by 11 %. Despite the reduction of maize yield in intercropping, this system was shown to be more economically viable, in particular when common bean was inoculated with Rhizobium.

Maize–cowpea intercropping as an ecological approach for nitrogen-use rationalization and weed suppression

“…Thus, MC alternating ridges pattern achieved the most efficient response in increasing the maize grain yield with progressive N increases, referring to the high-yield benefit of each nitrogen fertilizer unit. This is in accordance with that reported by Cardoso et al (2007), where each kilogram of N applied resulted in 32 and 48 kg of maize grains in sole cropping and in intercropping, respectively. R 2 value showed that the response to N level under MC alternating ridges was more evident in exhibiting changes in the maize yield than under MC same ridge or sole-M.…”

Response of Snap Bean Cultivars to Rhizobium Inoculation under Dryland Agriculture in Ethiopia

“…Many other factors including improved crop management may also contribute to a favorable outcome. Moreover, several reports demonstrated that significant improvement of yield and yield components in common bean was due to N2 fixation [9,32,[38][39][40].…”

The Putative Mesoamerican Domestication Center of Phaseolus vulgaris Is Located in the Lerma–Santiago Basin of Mexico

“…Beans, maize, and squash are often cultivated together in traditional cropping systems in Mexico (e.g., milpa cropping system) and other countries of Latin America and in eastern Africa because they complement each other agronomically (e.g., plant nitrogen balance; Cardoso et al, 2007) and nutritionally (e.g., balance of essential amino acids; Bressani, 1983). The actual area of domestication of these crops within Mexico—and particularly, whether these domestications can be traced back to a single region—is still the subject of both archaeological and genetic research.…”