Corn and Soybeans in a Strip Intercropping System: Crop Growth Rates, Radiation Interception, and Grain Yield Components

Abstract

Crop growth rates (CGR), radiation interception (IPAR), yields, and their components were determined in two crops monocultures (using one corn and two soybean genotypes) and in intercropped "strips," during three growing seasons. Corn yield in the strips significantly increased in the three seasons (13-16%) as compared to that in the monocultures. This response was due to increased yield in corn plants of the border rows of the strips, which was highly correlated to an increased IPAR, allowing high CGR at critical crop stages. As a result, more dry matter was partitioned to grain and also an increased number of ears per plant were generated. Conversely, yields of soybeans in the strips were 2 to 11% lower than that in the monocultures, with variable significance depending on soybean cultivar and/or year. Grain number per unit area was the yield component most closely associated to yield variation in both crops. We believe that if yield components of this system are more closely identified, more appropriate genotypes will fit into strip intercropping, thus contributing to the spread of this technique and thus to the sustainability of actual massive monocultured agricultural systems.

Growth of Bean Strip‐Intercropped with Maize: Evaluation of the CROPGRO Model

“…The bush bean Rows 2 to 5 showed on average a slightly lower, but not statistically different, pod dry matter than monocropped bush bean. These results are in line with other studies that showed a yield decline in the first row of soybean next to maize (Ghaffarzadeh et al, 1994; Iragavarapu and Randall, 1996; Verdelli et al, 2012). These studies and a more detailed study addressing soybean yield in each row of a narrow (four rows wide) strip intercropping of corn–soybean–oat (Jurik and Van, 2004) found an increasing soybean yield with the farther the distance from the maize strip.…”

“…The often reported higher resource‐use efficiency of intercropping systems (e.g., Willey, 1990; Rodrigo et al, 2001; Zhang and Li, 2003) combined with the facilitation of mechanized management may offer promising advantages to face the current challenges of the agricultural production in the NCP (Munz et al, 2014). Most often strip‐intercropping systems comprise a taller C4 species and a smaller legume, for example, predominantly in the United States and Argentina maize is strip‐intercropped with soybean (Ghaffarzadeh, 1999; Verdelli et al, 2012). In the NCP, there are numerous narrow‐strip intercropping combinations, for example, wheat and cotton (Zhang et al, 2008), wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.…”

“…Therefore, competition for light, water, and nutrients can strongly influence the productivity of these intercrops. In most studies, higher maize yields in border rows were attributed to an increased incoming radiation, whereas shading and competition for water and nutrients decreased the yield in the border row of the soybean strip (Francis et al, 1986; Ghaffarzadeh et al, 1994; Lesoing and Francis, 1999; Jurik and Van, 2004; Verdelli et al, 2012). Although, the yield of soybean was decreased on an absolute scale, radiation use efficiency (RUE) was reported to be higher (Gao et al, 2010a).…”

Evaluating different interrow distance between corn and soybean for optimum growth, production and nutritive value of intercropped forages

“…The light interception could be more available at wider interrow spacing than that of close interrow distance [ 20 – 22 ]. Intensified interplant competition for factor of light interception might influence dry matter yield of intercropped maize ears [ 23 ] because maize yield was linearly correlated with photosynthetic output [ 19 ]. If row spacing were increased in intercropping, photosynthetic activity of forage could be enhanced [ 24 ].…”

Study on Growth and Yield Response of Redgram in Various Intercropping System and Its Economics Under Different Land Configurations in North Western Agro Climatic Zone of Tamil Nadu

“…This might be the reason of competition between redgram in sole crop for light interception, nutrient and moisture. But, intercropping with short duration and shorter legume crops shows anidation effect with redgram by wider space availability between the each four rows of redgram and results increased growth of redgram in border rows by receiving more light and high soil moisture and nutrients without any competition and attained more growth rate (Verdelli et al, 2012).…”