Intercropping sweet corn with summer savory to increase weed suppression and yield

Abstract

A two-year field experiment was conducted to explore the effects of intercropping sweet corn with summer savory on weed growth and crop productivity. Five cropping patterns were set up: sweet corn alone (16 seeds m-2: in rows, 75cm apart), summer savory alone (40 seeds m-2; broadcasted), and three intercropping ratios of 75% sweet corn, 25% summer savory (75%C: 25%S), 50%C: 50%S and 25%C: 75%S, of plant densities used in respective monocultures. When intercropping, weed biomass decreased as the proportion of summer savory increased with a reduction of 48%, 61% and 70 % in 75%C: 25%S, 50%C: 50%S and 25%C: 75%S, respectively, compared to sweet corn alone. In parallel, sweet corn yield was higher under intercropping compared to its monoculture, and increased as the proportion of summer savory decreased with yield increases compared to corn monoculture of 38%, 32% and 15% in the first year and 48%, 23% and 14 % in the second year in 75%C: 25%S, 50%C: 50%S and 25%C: 75%S, respectively. However, the intercropping pattern had the opposite effect on summer savory yield with a significant reduction in yield with an increasing ratio of sweet corn. Our results indicate that intercropping sweet corn with summer savory can increase both weed suppression and yield of sweet corn compared to crop monoculture.

The Influence of Sugar Beet Cultivation Technologies on the Intensity and Species Biodiversity of Weeds

“…The use of catch crops is an ecologically acceptable weed control practice because catch crops enhance the competitiveness of the main crops against weeds. They are used in organic and low-input agriculture [90,91]. Catch crops are able to suppress weeds, but the degree of regulation depends on the choice of catch crop species, their share in the mixture and the density of the catch crop stand [92].…”

Effects of summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) and sweet corn (Zea mays L. saccharata) intercropping on crop production and essential oil profiles of summer savory

“…Maize caryopses and savory seeds were planted on 14 May 2019 and 24 May 2021. Cultivation was accomplished as per Naderi et al (2022) such that between-row and within-row spacing was 75 and 17 cm, respectively, for sweet corn. Summer savory seeds were broadcast into the furrows of intercropped treatments.…”