Maize and Pea Yield and Yield Components of Morphologically Contrasting Maize and Pea Cultivars in Sole and Intercrops in Temperate Conditions

2007

English

Field experiments were conducted in 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons at the Field Unit of the School of Plant Sciences of the University of Reading at Shinfield to determine the effects on yield of intercropping morphologically contrasting maize and pea cultivars. The maize varieties were ‘Sophy' with a planophile leaf habit and \'Nancis\' with an erect leaf habit. The two pea varieties were \'Maro\' with a normal leaf habit and \'Princess\' with a semi-leafless habit. In both years pea intercropped with maize resulted in smaller maize yields compared to their sole crop counterparts. However the reduction in yield was variable between pea cultivars and years. In 2000 maize intercropped with \'Maro\' resulted in 58% yield reduction and 27% for ‘Princess'. However in 2001 intercropping maize with \'Princess\' reduced yield by 66% compared with 30% for \'Maro\'. Intercropped maize in 2000 had slightly greater harvest index than sole maize. In 2001 maize intercropped with ‘Maro' had the greater harvest index. In 2000 \'Maro\' intercropped with \'Nancis\' had the largest yield whilst in 2001 intercropping pea with \'Nancis\' had comparable yield with sole pea. \'Maro\' in both sole and intercrops in 2000 had greater yield than \'Princess\' whilst in 2001 \'Princess\' in both cropping systems had greater yield than \'Maro\' In both years intercropped pea had consistently more seeds m-2 than sole pea. Mean pea seed weight was greater for intercropped pea in 2000 whilst in 2001 sole pea had greater mean seed weight than intercropped pea. Intercropped pea in 2000 had greater harvest index than sole pea whilst in 2001 sole pea had greater harvest index than intercropped pea. Intercropped maize yields were consistently smaller compared to their sole cropped counterparts but the reduction was greater with normal leaved pea ‘Maro' than the semi-leafless pea \'Princess'.

Kanton, R. A. L.; Dennet, M. D.