Yield and productivity of component crops in a maize-soybean intercropping system as affected by time of planting and spatial arrangement

摘要

Two field experiments were carried out in 2007 and 2008 to determine the appropriate sequence of planting and spatial arrangement of component crops in the maize-soybean intercropping system for optimum grain yield and production efficiency. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments consisted of combinations of five relative times of planting either maize or soybean and two spatial arrangements of soybean (alternate or double rows). One sole crop each of maize and soybean was added for comparison. The results indicated that the relative time of planting and spatial arrangement are important factors determining the productivity of the maize - soybean intercropping system. The crops must be planted simultaneously to obtain adequate yields of both crops. However, the spatial arrangement to adopt in order to obtain high yields for the component crops differed. For maize spatial arrangement of single rows of maize alternating with single rows of soybean gave the best yields. In contrast, a spatial arrangement of single rows of maize alternating with double rows of soybean recorded the best yields respect to soybean. LER values recorded were in general greater than unity, implying that it will be more productive to intercrop maize and soybean than grow them in monoculture.