Effect of maize/legume intercropping on crop productiviy and soil compaction

Abstract

This research was conducted in western of Turkey to determine the effects of maize/legume intercropping on productivity and soil compaction. The experiment comprised 7 treatments: sole planting of maize (Zea mays L.), cowpea (Vigna sinensis L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.), and 2 different planting patterns (1-and 2-row proportion) with 4 maize-legumes intercropping series. Intercropping significantly affected plant height, 1000 grain weight, the height of first ear and grain yield of maize. The results revealed that sole maize and maize+soybean double row strips gave maize grain yield as 11680.2 kg ha -1 and 8990.5 kg ha -1 , respectively. Land equivalent ratio (LER) was greater than 1, indicating that this cropping system was profitable in terms of land utilization. Maximum LER (1.743) was recorded in maize+soybean double row strips. Intercropped legumes were significantly increased soil compaction because of the machine traffic in alternate rows. Based on better interception of sunlight energy, crop growth and grain yield collected during the two growing seasons, 1M:2S (1.74) and 1M:2C (1.69) intercropping systems should be suggested.