Effects of water limitation on yield advantage and water use in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/maize (Zea mays L.) strip intercropping

摘要

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/maize (Zea mays L.) strip intercropping is widely practiced in arid regions of northwestern China because of its high land use efficiency. However, its sustainability has been questioned because it consumes much more water than sole cropped wheat or maize. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of water limitation on the yield advantage and water use of this system. Three field experiments were conducted in the Hetao Irrigation District in Inner Mongolia during the growing seasons of 2012-2014. Each experiment comprised two water applications, in which one was full irrigation and the other was a period of water limitation during the co-growth period of intercropping.