Physio-Morphology of Soybean in Various Population Proportions of Intercropping with Corn

Abstract

Soybean is Indonesia's important food crop, generally grown in monoculture. Global climate change can affect unfavourable environmental conditions and reduce soybean yields. Soybean yields can be increased by intercropping, which can improve the plant's environmental conditions. One of the crops that can be intercropped with soybeans is corn because planting corn between soybeans can create a favourable microclimate for soybeans. This study aims to obtain the right population proportion in soybean and corn intercropping based on physio-morphological responses. This research was conducted in Kasihan, Bantul, Yogyakarta Special Region, in July-November 2021, with a single-factor experimental method arranged in a single plot design. The treatment was the proportion of soybean and corn population, consisting of 4 proportions, i.e. 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, and monoculture soybean and corn as controls. The variables observed were leaf area, dry weight, chlorophyll content, stomatal density, number of pods, seed weight, and soybean yield. The results showed that the proportion of soybeans and corn intercropping population did not affect chlorophyll content and stomata density. A population proportion of 3:1 produces the number of leaves and specific leaf area, the number of pods, and pod weight per plant higher than monoculture soybeans and other intercropping population proportions.