Productivity of wheat/faba bean intercropping systems in response to sulphur fertilization and seed rate under contrasting management conditions
Ibrahim Yahuza
Key words: Sulphur fertilization, wheat seed rate, wheat/faba bean intercrop, conventional system, organic system.
Abstract:
Two field experiments carried out in contrasting production system (conventional versus organic) investigated the effects of sulphur (S) fertilization and wheat seed rate inwheat/faba bean (bean) intercropping system. For the conventional experiment, S fertilization reduced wheat seed yields and biomass yields substantially. Maximum wheat seed yields were 278 g/m2 and 391 g/m2 for S applied and S withheld respectively.
On the other hand, at 200 wheat seeds/m2 application of S significantly increased bean intercrop seed yield. Bean seed yields were 195.8 g/m2 and 81.9 g/m2 for S and without S respectively. For the seed yield, based on crop performance ratio (CPR), wheat in the intercrop was more efficient than the sole crop only at 200 wheat seeds/m2 when S was withheld as indicated by CPR value of 1.11. The maximum CPR for the bean of 1.87 was obtained at 200 wheat seeds/m2 when S was applied. For both wheat and bean, application of S had no substantial effects on harvest index. Whilst application of S had a positive effects on accumulated photosynthetically active radiation by the intercrop, radiation use efficiency was conservative in response to S fertilization. For the conventional experiment, it was concluded that bean competed with the wheat intensely for S than for N leading to higher yields for the bean when S was applied than when S was withheld. Hence, wheat intercrop seed yields were substantially reduced when S was applied. By contrast, in the organic experiment, S fertilization had no significant effects on the above-mentioned variables.
On the other hand, at 200 wheat seeds/m2 application of S significantly increased bean intercrop seed yield. Bean seed yields were 195.8 g/m2 and 81.9 g/m2 for S and without S respectively. For the seed yield, based on crop performance ratio (CPR), wheat in the intercrop was more efficient than the sole crop only at 200 wheat seeds/m2 when S was withheld as indicated by CPR value of 1.11. The maximum CPR for the bean of 1.87 was obtained at 200 wheat seeds/m2 when S was applied. For both wheat and bean, application of S had no substantial effects on harvest index. Whilst application of S had a positive effects on accumulated photosynthetically active radiation by the intercrop, radiation use efficiency was conservative in response to S fertilization. For the conventional experiment, it was concluded that bean competed with the wheat intensely for S than for N leading to higher yields for the bean when S was applied than when S was withheld. Hence, wheat intercrop seed yields were substantially reduced when S was applied. By contrast, in the organic experiment, S fertilization had no significant effects on the above-mentioned variables.
FULL ARTICLE AVAILABLE AT: Volume 2, Number 3, March 2012 – IJAAR
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