The Solar Corridor: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Crop Production

Leaf, plant, to canopy: A mechanistic study on aboveground plasticity and plant density within a maize–soybean intercrop system for the Midwest, USA

“…The solar corridor intercrop system was hypothesized to improve light capture and increase or sustain maize yields with the additional forage benefit or grain yield from the intercropped legume enhancing ecosystem services beyond the standard monoculture systems of the Midwest, USA (Deichman, 2000 ; Kremer, 2016 ; Kremer & Deichman, 2014b ). This study evaluated aboveground plasticity within the physiological and architectural dimensions of the intercrop system and its consequences for light‐use across biological scales under high maize plant density in 2019 and the impact of reducing maize plant density on yield in 2020.…”

“…There is interest among Midwestern farmers in intercropping N‐fixing legumes between maize rows that are wider‐spaced (2×) and at equal maize planting density compared with the standard maize monoculture (Abels et al, 2019 ; Kremer, 2016 ; Kremer & Deichman, 2014b ). Maize arranged in the wide rows, defined as a solar corridor, may improve yields by maximizing the availability of incident light deeper into the canopy (Deichman, 2000 ; Kremer, 2016 ; Kremer & Deichman, 2014b ). The legume, with the added benefit of biological N fixation, can provide forage for grazing livestock after mechanical maize harvest or be used as a crop residue to improve soil fertility for succeeding crops in rotation (Abels et al, 2019 ; Kremer & Deichman, 2014a ).…”

“…monocultures representing 30%-40% of the global production (FAO, 2020). There is interest among Midwestern farmers in intercropping N-fixing legumes between maize rows that are wider-spaced (2×) and at equal maize planting density compared with the standard maize monoculture (Abels et al, 2019;Kremer, 2016;Kremer & Deichman, 2014b). Maize arranged in the wide rows, defined as a solar corridor, may improve yields by maximizing the availability of incident light deeper into the canopy (Deichman, 2000;Kremer, 2016;Kremer & Deichman, 2014b).…”