Land use efficiency of maize and soyabean intercropping and the monetary returns.

摘要

In field trials in 1995-96 at Ibadan, Nigeria, maize cv. TZSR-W and soyabeans cv. TGX 1485-1D were intercropped at row ratios of 1:1, 1:2 or 1:3. The yield of maize decreased to 72, 57 and 40% of that of the monocrop as the maize density decreased by 50, 33 and 25%, respectively. Soyabean yields decreased to 70, 48 and 32% of that of the monocrop as soyabean yield decreased by 50, 66 and 75%, respectively. The land equivalent ratio means ranged from 1.04 to 1.09, suggesting a yield advantage of 4-9% over either sole crop. Returns increased with the proportion of maize, except at the maximum soyabean price. Sole soyabeans generated 49-89% of the revenue of sole maize. The intercrops were more remunerative than sole soyabeans, regardless price fluctuations, while returns were better than for sole maize only at the maximum soyabean price.