Journal of Ecology and Environment

The Ecological Society of Korea (한국생태학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Interaction between different nitrogen fertilizer levels and maize-bean intercropping patterns

  • Sadeghi, Hossein (Department of Desert Region Management, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University) ;
  • Kazemeini, Seyed Abdolreza (Department of Crop Production and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University)
  • Received : 2012.07.18
  • Accepted : 2012.08.20
  • Published : 2012.12.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

In order to investigate the effects of different maize-bean intercropping patterns, and of nitrogen fertilizers on morphological and yield related traits, a factorial study based on Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was performed during the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons in a research filed of Shiraz University, Iran. The first factor of the study was seven different ratios of Maize-Bean intercropping system (Maize sole cropping, Bean sole cropping, and intercropping of maize/bean at the ratios of 1/3, 1/1, 2/3, 3/2 and 3/1) and the second factor was three nitrogen (N) fertilizer application levels (0, 100 and 200 kg N/ha). Results showed that with respect to increasing the levels of N fertilizer, the yield of bean sole cropping decreased but the yield of maize sole cropping increased. On the other hand, in intercropping systems with N fertilizer application, the yield of both crops increased. Results of total land equivalent ratio (LER) for both crops showed that the highest LER value under both 100 and 200 kg N/ha application was that of M1B1 (1 seed of maize after 1 seed of bean, consecutively, on a row with same distance). Under no N fertilizer application the highest LER value was that of M2B3 (2 seeds of maize after 3 seeds of bean, consecutively, on a row with same distance). Overall, it can be concluded that M1B1 is the best intercropping pattern in maize-bean intercropping systems and that the application of N fertilizer can be effective within practical settings of intercropping agriculture, resulting in higher yields.

Keywords

References

  1. Baker CM, Blamey FPC. 1985. Nitrogen fertilizer effects on yield and nitrogen uptake of sorghum and soybean, grown in sole cropping and intercropping systems. Field Crops Res 12: 233-240. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4290(85)90071-1
  2. Baldy C, Stigter CJ. 1997. Agrometeorology of Multiple Cropping in Warm Climates. INRA, Paris.
  3. Beets WC. 1982. Multiple Cropping and Tropical Farming Systems. Westview Press, Boulder.
  4. Francis CA, Adipala E. 1994. Tropical intercropping systems: What is their future? Afr Crop Sci J 2: 131-133.
  5. Lithourgidis AS, Dordas CA, Damalas CA, Vlachostergios DN. 2011. Annual intercrops: an alternative pathway for sustainable agriculture. Aust J Crop Sci 5: 396-410.
  6. Mead R, Willey RW. 1980. The concept of a 'land equivalent ratio' and advantages in yields from intercropping. Exp Agric 16: 217-228. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479700010978
  7. Natarajan M, Willey RW. 1980. Sorghum-pigeonpea intercropping and the effects of plant population density: 2. resource use. J Agric Sci 95: 59-65. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859600029270
  8. Ofori F, Stern WR. 1986. Maize/cowpea intercrop system: effect of nitrogen fertilizer on productivity and efficiency. Field Crops Res 14: 247-261. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4290(86)90062-6
  9. Ofori F, Stern WR. 1987. Cereal-legume intercropping systems. Adv Agron 41: 41-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(08)60802-0
  10. SAS Institute Inc. 2004. SAS/STAT 9.1 User's Guide. SAS Publishing, Cary, NC.
  11. Tsubo M, Mukhala E, Ogindo HO, Walker S. 2003. Productivity of maize-bean intercropping in a semi-arid region of South Africa. Water SA 29: 381-388.
  12. Vandermeer J. 1989. The Ecology of Intercropping. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
  13. Willey RW. 1979a. Intercropping: its importance and research needs. Part I. Competition and yield advantages. Field Crops Abstr 32: 1-10
  14. Willey RW. 1979b. Intercropping: its importance and research needs. Part II. Agronomy and research approaches. Field Crops Abstr 32: 73-85.
  15. Willey RW. 1990. Resource use in intercropping systems. Agric Water Manag 17: 215-231. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-3774(90)90069-B