Weeds Spectrum, Productivity and Land-Use Efficiency in Maize-Gram Intercropping Systems under Semi-Arid Environment

Agronomy

Mohammed Nasser Alyemeni¹  Asif Iqbal²  Muhammad Awais Arshad²  Rana Nadeem Abbas²  Muhammad Aamir Iqbal³  Muhammad Imran⁴  Jen-Tsung Chen⁵  Ali Raza⁶  Daniel Ingo Hefft⁷ 

[1] Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh l1451, Saudi Arabia;Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan;Department of Agronomy, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot 12350, Pakistan;Department of Entomology, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot 12350, Pakistan;Department of Life Sciences, National University of Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung 81148, Taiwan;Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular and Cell Biology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China;University Centre Reaseheath, Reaseheath College, Nantwich CW5 6DF, UK;

关键词: sustainable intercropping;    companion crops;    Vigna mungo;    Vigna radiata;    living mulch;    land equivalent ratio;   

DOI  :  10.3390/agronomy11081615

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

To ensure food security on sustainable basis, reducing weeds interference and boosting land use efficiency are critical. A field study was conducted at research farm of University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan, to sort out the most productive maize-gram intercropping system under semi-arid environment. Treatments included sole maize in single row (60 cm apart) (T₁) and double rows (90 cm apart) (T₂) strips, sole black (T₃) and green gram (T₄) crops, six single rows (60 cm apart) of maize with twelve double rows (20 cm) of black (T₅) and green gram (T₆), three double rows (90 cm apart) of maize with three sets of quadratic rows (20 cm apart) of black (T₇) and green gram (T₈). The experiment was executed in regular arrangement of randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that T₁ produced the highest grain yield (6.97 t ha⁻¹) of maize and significantly lower weeds infestation compared to wider row spacing (T₂). Among intercropping systems, T₈ significantly decreased weeds density (16.33 plants m⁻²) and their fresh (20.93 g m⁻²) and dry weights (5.63 g m⁻²), while the maximum land use efficiency as indicated by unmatched land equivalent ratio and intercropping advantage were recorded by T₇ and T₈. Interestingly, green gram in intercropping recorded over 58% higher productivity than black gram. We conclude that maize-green gram intercropping hold potential to impart sustainability to maize production by reducing weeds infestation (431% lower than sole maize) and could be a viable option for smallholder farmers in semi-arid environment.

【 授权许可】

Unknown