Abstract
Abstract Intercropping is the simultaneous cultivation of more than one crop species on the same piece of land and is regarded as the practical application of basic ecological principles such as diversity, competition and facilitation. Field experiments were carried out on a sandy loam soil and a sandy soil in Denmark over three consecutive cropping seasons including dual grain legume (pea, faba bean and lupin)–barley intercropping as compared to the respective sole crops (SC). Yield stability of intercrops (IC) was not greater than that of grain legume SC, with the exception of the IC containing faba bean. Faba bean and lupin had lower yield stability than pea and fertilized barley. However, the different IC used environmental resources for plant growth up to 50% (LER=0.91–1.51) more effectively as compared to the respective SC, but with considerable variation over location, years and crops. The SC performance supported the interspecific interactions within the IC stand. On the sandy loam 13% greater grain yield of pea cv. Agadir (520 g m −2 ) was observed as compared to cv. Bohatyr. Faba bean and lupin yielded similarly (340 g m −2 ) in the sandy loam soil, with decreasing yields on the sandy soil (320–270 g m −2 ). Nitrogen fixation was very constant in grain legume SC over species and location, varying from 13.2 to 15.8 g N m −2 , being lowest in peas and highest in faba bean and lupin. The intercropped grain legumes increased the proportion of plant N derived from N 2 -fixation by on average 10–15% compared to the corresponding SC. However, especially lupin was suppressed when intercropping, with a reduced N 2 -fixation from 15 to 5–6 g N m −2 . The IC were particularly effective at suppressing weeds, capturing a greater share of available resources than SC. Weed infestation in the different crops was comparable; however, it tended to be the highest in sole cropped faba bean, lupin and unfertilized barley, where the application of urea to barley reduced the weed infestation by around 50%. Reduction in disease was observed in all IC systems compared to the corresponding SC, with a general disease reduction in the range of 20–40%. For one disease in particular (brown spot on lupin) disease reduction was almost 80% in the IC. Intercropping practices offer many advantages but improved understanding of the ecological mechanisms associated with planned spatial diversity, including additional benefits with associated diversity, is needed to enhance the benefits achieved.
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Claims 13
Claim · model-written summary
Intercrop yield stability was generally no greater than sole grain legumes, except faba bean intercrops.
Verbatim
e0“Yield stability of intercrops (IC) was not greater than that of grain legume SC, with the exception of the IC containing faba bean.”
Claim · model-written summary
Faba bean and lupin had lower yield stability than pea and fertilized barley.
- Taxon
- Faba bean and lupin
Lupinus
Vicia fabae0 - Outcome
- yield stabilitye0
- Direction
- lowere0
- Comparator
- pea and fertilized barleye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Faba bean and lupin had lower yield stability than pea and fertilized barley.”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercrops used plant growth resources up to 50% more effectively than sole crops.
Verbatim
e0“the different IC used environmental resources for plant growth up to 50% (LER=0.91–1.51) more effectively as compared to the respective SC”
Claim · model-written summary
Agadir pea grain yield on sandy loam was 13% greater than Bohatyr.
- Taxon
- pea
Lathyrus oleraceuse0 - Material
- cv. Agadire0
- Outcome
- grain yielde0
- Direction
- greatere0
- Value
- 13%e0
- Qualifier
- 520 g m −2e0
- Comparator
- cv. Bohatyre0
- Setting
- sandy loame0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“On the sandy loam 13% greater grain yield of pea cv. Agadir (520 g m −2 ) was observed as compared to cv. Bohatyr.”
Claim · model-written summary
Faba bean yield was 340 g m −2 on sandy loam and declined on sandy soil.
- Taxon
- Faba beanVicia fabae0
- Outcome
- yieldede0
- Direction
- decreasinge0
- Value
- 340 g m −2e0
- Qualifier
- 320–270 g m −2e0
- Setting
- sandy loam soile0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Faba bean and lupin yielded similarly (340 g m −2 ) in the sandy loam soil, with decreasing yields on the sandy soil (320–270 g m −2 ).”
Claim · model-written summary
Lupin yield was 340 g m −2 on sandy loam and declined on sandy soil.
- Outcome
- yieldede0
- Direction
- decreasinge0
- Value
- 340 g m −2e0
- Qualifier
- 320–270 g m −2e0
- Setting
- sandy loam soile0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Faba bean and lupin yielded similarly (340 g m −2 ) in the sandy loam soil, with decreasing yields on the sandy soil (320–270 g m −2 ).”
Claim · model-written summary
Sole grain legume nitrogen fixation varied from 13.2 to 15.8 g N m −2, lowest in peas and highest in faba bean and lupin.
Verbatim
e0“Nitrogen fixation was very constant in grain legume SC over species and location, varying from 13.2 to 15.8 g N m −2 , being lowest in peas and highest in faba bean and lupin.”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropped legumes had 10–15% more plant N from N2 fixation than sole legumes.
Verbatim
e0“The intercropped grain legumes increased the proportion of plant N derived from N 2 -fixation by on average 10–15% compared to the corresponding SC.”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping reduced lupin N2 fixation from 15 to 5–6 g N m −2.
- Treatment
- intercroppinge0
- Outcome
- N 2 -fixatione0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 5–6 g N m −2e0
- Qualifier
- from 15e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“lupin was suppressed when intercropping, with a reduced N 2 -fixation from 15 to 5–6 g N m −2”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercrops suppressed weeds more effectively than sole crops.
Verbatim
e0“The IC were particularly effective at suppressing weeds, capturing a greater share of available resources than SC.”
Claim · model-written summary
Urea application to barley reduced weed infestation around 50%.
- Taxon
- barley
.jpg?width=60)
Hordeum vulgaree0 - Treatment
- application of ureae0
- Interactor
- weede0weed
- Outcome
- weed infestatione0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 50%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“the application of urea to barley reduced the weed infestation by around 50%”
Claim · model-written summary
Disease was reduced 20–40% across intercrops relative to sole crops.
Verbatim
e0“Reduction in disease was observed in all IC systems compared to the corresponding SC, with a general disease reduction in the range of 20–40%.”
Claim · model-written summary
Brown spot on lupin was reduced almost 80% in intercrops.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“brown spot on lupin) disease reduction was almost 80% in the IC”
The same questions in other papers
nitrogen · weed · Hordeum vulgare (barley)Positive and negative results
3 papers in the same direction as this paper · 5 in the opposite direction
- no effect
- negative
- no effect
5 papers more in this group
See all 9 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.