Effect of number of planting rows in strip intercropping of maize, pintobean and soybean and their sole cropping on seed yield

Subject Areas : Journal of Crop Ecophysiology

F. Farahvash, ¹ ( Assistant Prof., Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran )
A. Rahmati ² ( Former MSc. Student of Agronomy, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran )
F. Jafari ³ ( Former MSc. Student of Agronomy, Brojerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Brojerd, Iran )
H. Amir Hallaji ⁴ ( Former MSc. Student of Agronomy, Brojerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Brojerd, Iran )

Received: 2011-04-11 Accepted : 2012-03-10 Published : 2012-03-20

Keywords: Maize, soybean, Pinto Bean, Strip intercropping,

Abstract :

To evaluate the effects of rows of maize-pintobean, maize-soybean planted in strip intercropping and their sole croppings, an experiment using randomized complete block design with three replication, was conducted for two consecutive years at the Agricultural Research Center of Islamic Azad University, Tabriz branch. Treatments were: A (intercropping of maize-pintobean, one row of each, B (intercropping of maize-pintobean, two rows of each), C (intercropping of maize-pintobean, three rows of each), D (intercropping of maize-soybean, two rows of each), E (intercropping of maize-soybean, two rows of each), F (intercropping of maize-soybean, three rows of each), G(sole cropping of maize), H (sole cropping of pintobean) and I (sole cropping of soybean). Experimental results showed that maize produced, in both years, highest (17818 kg/ha) using treatment D and lowest (15509 kg/ha) yields in treatment G. This indicates that maize produced higher yield in intercropping than sole cropping. Maize, also, produced highest yield in treatment D and lowest in treatment F. Pintobean had highest yield (2498 kg/ha) in treatment H and lowest (2073 kg/ha) in treatment A. Soybean, on the other hand, produced highest yield (4794 kg/ha) in treatment I and also lowest (3257 kg/ha) in treatment D. A a whole, it may be concluded that pintobean and soybean produce higher yield in sole cropping as compared to intercroppings.