Distribution and use efficiency of photosynthetically active radiation in strip intercropping of maize and soybean

Distribution and use efficiency of photosynthetically active radiation in strip intercropping of maize and soybean

2010

E02777

An experiment was conducted at Shangqiu Agro-Ecosystem Experimental Station in 2006–2008 to investigate the distribution and use defciency of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Te soil was classifed as a Eutric Cambisol. Four treatments were compared: (i) sole crop maize (Zea mays L.) (SM); (ii) sole crop soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (SSB); (iii) three rows of soybean alternated with one row of maize (I1 ); and (iv) three rows of soybean alternated with two rows of maize (I2 ). Observed fraction of radiation intercepted (F), radiation use defciency (RUE), and harvest index (HI) revealed that PAR transmittance at the bottom of the soybean canopy adjacent to the maize was higher than that farther from the maize. However, this diference decreased as the crops developed. Te averaged extinction coefcient (K) and RUE were 0.51 and 2.82 g MJ–1 for I1 and 0.50 and 2.78 g MJ–1 for I2 , respectively, compared with 0.46 and 3.18 g MJ–1 for sole crop maize and 0.59 and 1.55 g MJ–1 for sole crop soybean. Te HI of I1 and I2 were 0.45 and 0.44 for maize and 0.35 and 0.36 for soybean, respectively. Te HI of sole crop maize and sole crop soybean were 0.42 and 0.40, respectively. Te mean land equivalent ratio (LER) for I1 and I2 was 1.65 and 1.71, respectively. Terefore, it can be concluded that intercropping usually had greater RUE than sole cropping, which may account for the yield advantage of intercropping.

v.102(4):1149-1157, AGRONOMY JOURNAL

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