Effects of intercropping on yield, weed incidence, forage quality and soil residual N in organically grown forage maize (Zea mays L.) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

Stoltz, Eva; Nadeau, Elisabet

doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2014.09.004

Research article2014Peer reviewed

Effects of intercropping on yield, weed incidence, forage quality and soil residual N in organically grown forage maize (Zea mays L.) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

Stoltz, Eva; Nadeau, Elisabet

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of intercropping organically grown maize and faba bean under Swedish conditions on yield, forage quality, soil mineral nitrogen (N) content after harvest and weed incidence. Experiments with maize and faba bean as a monocrop and intercrop were performed at three field sites, with various amounts of N (dairy slurry) applied. The land equivalent ratio (LER) was 1.10-1.21 in two of the three experiments. The mean crude protein concentration of the three experiments increased from 63 g kg(-1), in feed of monocropped maize, to 107 g kg(-1), in feed of maize intercropped with faba bean. Intercropping had lower N balances compared with monocropped maize and tended to reduce the content of mineral N in the soil after harvest by, on average, 10 kg ha(-1). Weed incidence was slightly reduced by intercropping compared with monocropped maize. In conclusion, the results show that intercropping maize and faba bean in organic production can generate positive yield effects with LER > 1. Furthermore, intercropping resulted in higher protein content and lower residual soil mineral N after harvest compared to monocropped maize. Intercropping can thus increase the sustainability of forage production by reducing the need for protein feed and the risk of N pollution. The positive effects of intercropping, i.e. increased yield and reduced soil residual N, were found in the fields with relatively high amount of available N, but not in a field with lower N availability. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Intercrop; Maize; Faba bean; Forage quality; Residual soil nitrogen; Weed

Published in

Field Crops Research
2014, Volume: 169, pages: 21-29

SLU Authors

Nadeau, Elisabet
- Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG12 Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

UKÄ Subject classification

Food Science

Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2014.09.004

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/63382