Effects of Different Tree Species on Growth and Yield of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) Grown in Hedgerow Intercropping Systems in Sri Lanka

Reduction of crop yields due to resource competition from tree hedges is a serious drawback of hedgerow intercropping. This work quantified the competition of six potential hedgerow tree species ( Calliandra calothyrus , Desmodium ransonii , Flemingia congesta , Gliricidia sepium , Cassia spectabilis and Tithonia diversifolia ) on mung bean ( Vigna radiata ) grown as hedgerow intercrops at Pallekelle in the mid-elevational (367 m above sea level), subhumid (rainfall of 1400 mm year⁻¹) zone of Sri Lanka. Leaf area, total biomass and yield of mung bean in hedgerow intercrops showed a clear reduction closer to the hedgerows, whereas no such reduction was observed in a sole crop of mung bean. At 30 cm from the hedgerow, growth and yield of mung bean were significantly lower than in the sole crop, indicating significant competition from hedgerows. However, growth and yield of mung bean increased with increasing distance from hedgerows so that, at 150 cm, mung bean under Gliricidia and Desmodium showed significantly greater growth and yields than the control. In contrast, even the maximum mung bean yields under the rest of the species did not reach that of the control. The differences in competition with different hedgerow species are discussed in terms of variations between tree species in biomass production, quality of prunings and the possibility of root competition.     

Effect of density,cultivar and irrigation on spring sown monocrops and intercrops of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and faba beans (Vicia faba L.)

Spring-sown intercrops of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and faba beans (Vicia faba L.) were grown in three experiments at the University of Reading, UK. One wheat cultivar, Axona, and one (experiment 1) or two bean cultivars (experiments 2 and 3) Scirocco and Maris Bead, were grown as sole crops and intercrops at 50%, 75% and 100% recommended density. Experiments were rainfed but irrigation was an additional treatment in experiment 3. Biomass and seed yields of both wheat and faba beans were greater when monocropped than when intercropped. There was no evidence that radiation use efficiency (RUE) of intercrops was significantly different from sole crops. In all intercrops there was no significant effect of density on biomass, RUE or seed yield, though there were compensating changes in yield components. Seed yields of Maris Bead were significantly greater than Scirocco in experiment 3 but not experiment 2. There was no significant effect of irrigation on RUE or on wheat biomass and seed yield, but there was a trend for irrigation to increase faba bean biomass (P = 0.07) and seed yield (P = 0.06). With later sowing in experiments 2 and 3, time to harvest was shorter and wheat and bean biomass, seed yield and RUE were reduced. All land equivalent ratio (LER) values for both biomass (maximum 1.23) and seed yield (maximum 1.44) were greater than 1, with one exception in experiment 3, indicating that intercrops of wheat and faba beans make more effective use of land than equivalent sole crops. Partial LERs for faba beans were always lower than those of wheat. The tendency was for highest LERs to occur at 75% recommended density.     

Environmental Interactions between Different Tree Species and Mung Bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) in Hedgerow Intercropping Systems in Sri Lanka

Annual crops grown in association with contour hedgerows often show yield reductions. This paper quantifies the variation of above- and below-ground environmental factors in hedgerow intercrops involving six different tree species ( Calliandra calothyrus , Desmodium ransonii , Flemingia c ongesta , Gliricidia sepium , Cassia spectabilis and Tithonia diversifolia ) and thereby shows the effects of tree hedges on mung bean ( Vigna radiata ). Compared to a sole crop of mung bean, most hedgerow intercrops removed greater soil nitrogen, whereas all removed lower soil phosphorus. Mung bean closer to the hedgerows had lower N and P, indicating competitive capture of nutrients by hedges. Most hedgerow intercrops had greater top-soil water because of their shading effect, especially near hedgerows. However, greater absorption by tree root systems decreased subsoil water near hedgerows late in the season. Soil temperature was lower in most hedgerow intercrops than in the control and increased with increasing distance from hedges. During initial stages of mung bean growth, radiation interception of intercrops was greater than that of the control, especially closer to hedgerows. However, after the first month, radiation interception of the sole crop was either equal to or greater than that of hedgerow intercrops. There was significant variation between tree species in all these environmental factors. Gliricidia , which allowed greater mung bean yields, also allowed greater nutrient capture by mung bean, greater top-soil water availability, lower extraction of subsoil water and lower soil temperatures.     

Yield and Yield Components from Intercropping Improved Bush Bean Cultivars with Maize

Bush bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is widely intercropped with maize ( Zea mays L.) in North-west Spain. Little information is available on the relative performance of elite bush bean cultivars when intercropped or on the effect of bush bean on performance of the maize crop. This two-environment study presents the interactions between improved bush bean cultivars and maize on yield and yield components. Eight treatments (four bean/maize intercrops and four sole crops, two of bean and two of maize) were tested using a randomized complete block design with four replications in two environments. Bean and maize were planted simultaneously in alternate rows when intercropped. Significant treatment differences were observed for bean and maize moisture, pod and cob percentage, bean and maize yield, ears per plant and ear length. Location effects were significant for bean and maize moisture and pod percentage. Significant treatment by location interactions occurred for pod percentage and ear length. Intercropping reduced yield by between 40 and 60 % for bush bean cultivars, and by 45 % for both maize cultivars. Mean yields were used to calculate the land equivalent ratio (LER), which averaged 1.01 in Pontevedra but 0.93 in La Coruña. Intercropping of bush bean with maize did not make better use of land than conventional sole cropping under these environmental conditions. It is suggested that this was probably due to the amount and distribution of rain in relation to crop growth. Approaches that might be expected to result in improved land usage are presented.     

Yield and yield components of wheat and maize in wheat–maize intercropping in the Netherlands

Intercropping is widely used by smallholder farmers in developing countries, and attracting attention in the context of ecological intensification of agriculture in developed countries. There is little experience with intercropping of food crops in Western Europe. Yields in intercrops depend on planting patterns of the mixed species in interaction with local growing conditions. Here we present data of two years field experimentation on yield and yield components of a wheat–maize intercrop system in different planting configurations in the Netherlands. Treatments included sole crops of wheat (SW) and maize (SM), a replacement intercrop consisting of strips of six wheat rows alternating with two maize rows (6:2WM), as well as subtractive or additive designs, based on skip-row (6:0WM, 0:2WM) and add-row (8:2WM, 6:3WM) configurations. The land equivalent ratio (LER) of intercrops varied from 1.18 to 1.30 in 2013 and from 0.97 to 1.08 in 2014. Wheat grown in the border rows of wheat strips had higher ear number per meter row, greater kernel number per ear, and greater yield per meter row than wheat in inner rows and sole wheat, indicating reduced competition. Wheat in the border rows in the intercrops had, however, reduced thousand kernel weight and harvest index, indicating that competition in border rows intensified over time. Intercropping negatively affected maize biomass and thousand kernel weight, especially in add-row treatments. This study indicates that there is a potential yield benefit for the wheat–maize intercropping system under Western European growing conditions. However, the LER was affected by yearly variation in weather conditions and significantly greater than one in only one of the two years of the study.     

Effect of Component Densities on the Productivity of Soybean/Maize and Soybean/Sorghum Intercrop

Field experiments were conducted during the wet seasons of 1986 and 1987 at the Yandev Agricultural Experiment Station to investigate the effects of component density on the yield of sorghum or maize intercropped with soybean. Seed yield of the monocrops of sorghum, maize and soybean were higher than the individual components in the intercrops. Yields of component crops in the intercrop varied significantly with the components population density. The sorghum/soybean intercrops which had LER (Land Equivalent Ratio) up to 1.40 in 1986 and 1.35 in 1987 were more productive than soybean/maize intercrop with maximum LER of 1.28 and 1.34 respectively during 1986 and 1987. Similarly the ATER (Area X Time Equivalent Ratio) of sorghum/soybean was greater than in soybean/maize. However, for maximum productivity of sorghum or maize intercropped with soybean, optimum population of one component crop plus 1/2 optimum population of the companion crop is recommended depending on which of the crop is regarded as main or minor crop.     

Intercropping and Poultry Manure Effects on Yields of Corn, Watermelon and Soybean Grown in a Calcareous Soil in the Jordan Valley

This study was conducted at the University of Jordan Research Station in the central Jordan Valley during 1988 and 1989 summer growing seasons, to determine the potential and response of summer crops to intercropping system and to poultry manure addition. Corn, soybean and watermelon were grown as sole crops and as intercrops in three paired combinations (corn: watermelon, corn: soybean, watermelon: soybean) with three levels of poultry manure (0, 20, 40 t/ha). The crop yields and land equivalent ratios (LERs) were determined for all treatments. The highest yields for the two cropping systems were obtained in response to the highest poultry manure addition. Corn gave the highest yield when intercropped with soybean, where increases in yield of 45 % and 66 % were obtained over those of corn sole crop at the same level of poultry manure (40 t/ha), in 1988 and 1989 seasons, respectively. Soybean gave the highest yield when grown with corn leading to an increase of 35 % and 34 % over soybean sole crop grown at the same level of poultry manure (40 t/ha) in 1988 and 1989, respectively. Watermelon gave the highest yield when grown with soybean, giving an increase which ranged from 390 to 920 kg ha⁻¹ over the yield of sole cropping system under the same level of poultry manure (40 t/ha). The LER values for all intercrop treatments were greater than 1.0 which gave clearly an indication for the superiority of the intercropping over the sole cropping system especially when 40 t ha⁻¹ poultry manure was added.     

Effects of Irrigation at Different Growth Stages and Source-Sink Manipulations on Yield and Yield Components of Mung Bean, Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek, in Dry and Intermediate Zones of Sri Lanka

Irrigation is a management option available to farmers in the subhumid zones of Sri Lanka to increase mung bean yields during the dry Yala season. The objective of this study was to quantify the yield gain in response to irrigation at different stages of the crop and thereby determine the most suitable stage/s of irrigation. Four field experiments were conducted during Yala in 1995 and 1996 at two sites, Maha-Illuppallama (MI) and Kundasale (KS). Eight irrigation regimes consisting of all possible combinations of irrigation at three growth stages of the crop were defined. The respective growth stages were vegetative (from germination to appearance of first flower), flowering (from appearance of first flower to 75 % pod initiation) and pod-filling (from 75 % pod initiation to maturity). The treatments which received irrigation during two or more stages had significantly higher yields (793–1396 kg ha⁻¹) than those which received irrigation during only one stage (401–756 kg ha⁻¹) with the lowest yield being shown by the rain-fed treatment (227–396 kg ha⁻¹). When at least two stages can be irrigated, irrigation during the flowering and pod-filling stages was most effective. Irrigation during flowering produced the highest yield gain when only one stage could be irrigated. Seed yield showed a strong positive correlation with number of pods m^−2. Fifity per cent de-podding caused yield reductions at both sites, indicating sink limitation. In contrast, 50 % defoliation reduced the yields only at MI where the number of pods m⁻² was greater than at KS. Hence, source limitation was present only when the number of pods was higher.     

玉米–大豆带状套作行距配置对作物生物量、根系形态及产量的影响

空间配置是影响间作套种作物生长和产量构成的关键因素之一。本研究固定玉米–大豆套作带宽200 cm,玉米采用宽窄行种植,设置4个玉米窄行行距为20 cm(A1)、40 cm(A2)、60 cm(A3)和80 cm(A4)套作处理,2个玉米和大豆净作对照处理,研究行距配置对套作系统中玉米和大豆生物量、根系及产量的影响。结果表明,套作大豆冠层光合有效辐射和红光/远红光比值均低于净作,且随着玉米窄行的增加而降低。套作系统中大豆地上地下生物量、总根长、根表面积和根体积从第三节龄期(V3)到盛花期(R2)逐渐增加,但随着玉米窄行的增加而降低。套作玉米地上地下生物量从抽雄期到成熟期逐渐增加,根体积却逐渐降低,但这些参数随玉米窄行的变宽而增加。玉米和大豆在带状套作系统中产量均低于净作,且随玉米窄行的变宽,玉米产量逐渐增加,2012和2013两年最大值平均为6181 kg hm–2,而大豆产量逐渐降低,两年最大值平均为1434 kg hm–2,产量变化与有效株数和粒数变化密切相关。此外,玉米–大豆带状套作群体土地当量比(LER)大于1.3,最大值出现在A2处理,分别为1.59(2012年)和1.61(2013年),且最大经济收益也出现在A2处理(2年每公顷平均收益为1.93万元)。因此,合理的行距配置对玉米–大豆带状套作系统中作物的生长、产量构成和群体效益具有重要的作用。     

Planting density and sowing proportions of maize–soybean intercrops affected competitive interactions and water-use efficiencies on the Loess Plateau,China

In field trials on the Loess Plateau, China, in 2012–13, maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) were sole cropped and intercropped at three densities and with three sowing proportions. Maize was generally more growth efficient for biomass accumulation than soybean during the entire growth interval, as assessed using the relative efficiency index (REI_c). However, most of sowing proportion at each density displayed a trend of decreased growth with development. Throughout the growth period, the dry matter production and leaf area index (LAI) of maize increased as the plant density increased irrespective of whether it was grown as a sole crop or as an intercrop. However, the effect of increasing cropping density was less obvious for soybean. The LAI values of the sole crop treatment for both maize and soybean were greater than that of the intercropping system, indicating that the presence of maize and soybean together suppressed the respective growth of the two crops. At the final harvest, land equivalent ratios (LER) of 0.84–1.35 indicated resource complementarity in most of the studied intercrops. Complementarity was directly affected by changes in plant densities; the greatest LER were observed in 2 rows maize and 2 rows soybean intercrops at low density. The water equivalent ratio (WER), which characterized the efficiency of water resource use in intercropping, ranged from 0.84 to 1.68, indicating variability in the effect of intercropping on water-use efficiency (WUE).     

Yield Comparison of Within Row Mixtures, Between Row Mixtures, and Composites of Spring Faba Bean Cultivars

The performance of three spring faba bean ( Vicia faba L.) cultivars Stella, Danas, and Minden in monocultures were compared with mixtures of Stella + Minden, and Danas + Minden sown as within row mixtures, alternate row mixtures, and as composites.
Mixtures of both cultivar combinations, whether mechanical or composites, had net increases in seed yield per plot ranging from 10.5 % to 20 % above the means of the component cultivars grown in monoculture. Cultivars grown in mixtures in alternate rows had slightly greater seed yield than when they were grown alternately within rows. A further yield enhancement was obtained from growing composites.
Data for total plant dry weight were similar to those for seed yield. The number of podded nodes per plant was the major yield component responsible for the increased yields of the component cultivars in mixtures. The ecological aspects of these results are discussed.     

The Effects of Intercrop Spacing Patterns on the Silage Yield of Maize and Soybean

The effects of intercrop spacing patterns on the silage yields of both maize (lea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) were examined from 1985 to 1987. Dwarf maize was intercropped with nonnodulatmg or nodulating soybean in the spacing patterns, S_40same (two crops in the same row, 40 cm row width) and S_20ait or S_40ak (two crops in alternate rows, 20 cm or 40 cm row width, respectively). Tall maize was intercropped with nodulating soybean in S_40sames S_40alt and S_40pair (maize in 40 cm paired rows, soybean rows 20 cm outside each maize row and 80 cm from the next set of four rows) at 0 or 60 kg N ha⁻¹ and at population densities of 67% maize: 67% soybean or 50 % maize: 50% soybean. Maize and soybean were also intercropped and stripcropped on a farm-scale. The only difference between intercrops arranged in the same rows versus those in alternate rows was that the average soybean protein yields were higher in S_40same than in S_40alt. In 1986, the S_40alt maize-soybean intercrops produced higher maize yields, total biomass yields and Land Equivalent Ratios (LERs) than in S_40pirs, and in 1987, these responses were higher in intercrops than in stripcrops. In 1986, at 0 kg N ha⁻¹, the soybean biomass and protein yields were lower in S_40alt, than in S_40pairs and in 1987, these responses were lower in intercrops than in stripcrops.     

Effects of Irrigation at Different Growth Stages on Vegetative Growth of Mung Bean, Vigna Radiata (L.) Wilczek, in Dry and Intermediate Zones of Sri Lanka

Mung bean crops in the subhumid zones of Sri Lanka experience significant drought periods. The objective of this study was to quantify the growth response of mung bean to irrigation at different phenological stages and thereby determine the optimum irrigation regime to maximize growth. Four field experiments were conducted at two sites in 1995 and 1996. The crop duration of mung bean was divided into three stages: vegetative (from germination to appearance of first flower), flowering (from appearance of first flower to 75 % pod initiation) and pod-filling (from 75 % pod initiation to maturity). Eight treatments were devised to represent all possible combinations of irrigation at the three stages. Maximum leaf area index (ranging from 0.6 to 2.6 across treatments) and total leaf area duration were increased significantly by irrigation during the vegetative stage. Specific leaf weight decreased and maximum total crop biomass (150–400 g m⁻²) increased with the number of stages irrigated. Irrigation decreased the absolute root biomass and increased the shoot:root ratio. It is concluded that, in this agroclimatic zone of Sri Lanka, irrigation of mung bean during the vegetative stage is critical for maximizing leaf area. However, biomass production can be maximized by increasing the number of stages irrigated irrespective of irrigation at any specific stage.     

Response of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek) to an Increasing Natural Temperature Gradient under Different Crop Management Systems

Increasing temperatures pose a significant threat to crop production in the tropics. A field experiment was conducted with mung bean at three locations in Sri Lanka representing an increasing temperature gradient (24.4–30.1 °C) during two consecutive seasons to (i) determine the response of mung bean to increasing temperature and (ii) test a selected set of crop management practices aimed at decreasing essential inputs such as water, synthetic pesticides and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer. The control treatment (T₁) consisted of standard crop management including irrigation, chemical crop protection and inorganic fertilizer application. Adaptation system 1 (T₂) included mulching with rice straw at 8 t ha^?1 with 30 % less irrigation and crop protection and nutrient management as in T₁. Adaptation system 2 (T₃) included crop protection using a pretested integrated pest management package with water and nutrient management as in T₂. In adaptation system 3 (T₄), 25 % of the crop's nitrogen requirement was given as organic manure (compost) at 0.8 t ha^?1 while 75 % was given as inorganic fertilizer with water management and crop protection as in T₃. Durations of both pre‐ and post‐flowering phases were reduced with increasing temperature. In the warmer (25.4–30.1 °C) yala season, seed yield (Y) of T₁ decreased with increasing temperature at 366 kg ha^?1 °C^?1. However, in maha season, Y did not show a significant relationship across the narrower temperature gradient from 24.4 to 25.8 °C. Pooling the data from both seasons showed a second‐order polynomial response with an optimum temperature of 26.5 °C. In addition to shortened durations, reduced crop growth rates and reduced pod numbers per plant were responsible for yield reductions at higher temperatures. In yala, yields of all adaptation systems at all locations were on par with yields of the respective controls. Furthermore, yala yields of T₂ and T₃ were less sensitive than T₁ to increasing temperatures (265 and 288 kg ha^?1 °C^?1). In maha, T₃ and T₄ had greater yields than the control at the relatively cooler site while having lower yields than the control at the warmer site. Maha yields of T₂ were on par with the control at both temperature regimes. While demonstrating the significant temperature sensitivity of mung bean yields, results of the present work showed that components of the tested adaptation systems could be promoted among smallholder farmers in Asia, especially in view of their long‐term environmental benefits and contributions to sustainable agriculture in a warmer and drier future climate.     

Genotype × cropping system interaction in climbing beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown as sole crop and in association with maize (Zea mays L.)

The selection of cultivars for the predominant cropping systems of small farms in the tropics depends to a large extent on the information obtained by testing their performance across the different systems. The main objective of this experiment was to measure the genotype × cropping system (G × CS) interaction for yield and selected agronomic traits of climbing beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown as sole crop and intercropped with two morphologically contrasting maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars. A secondary objective was to identify the most efficient and productive bean–maize intercrop combinations. Seven climbing bean genotypes were grown as sole crop and intercropped with two maize varieties, BH 140 (Mix. 1) and Guto (Mix. 2), in a factorial arranged Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications at Bako Agricultural Research Center in western Ethiopia. Main effects due to genotype and cropping system (except days to flowering) were significant for all bean traits considered. The genotypes × cropping system interaction terms were also significant for the number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight, harvest index and seed yield. While bean seed yield significantly correlated with the number of seeds per pod (in Mix. 1) and with harvest index (in both mixtures), positive and significant correlations occurred with the number of pods per plant and 100-seed weight under sole cropping system. The correlation between bean seed yields of Mix. 1 and Mix. 2 and between Mix. 2 and sole crop were positive and significant. No such relationship was found between Mix. 1 and sole crop. The results suggest that selection of suitable climbing bean cultivars for intercropping with maize varieties predominantly grown in the area should be made under the associated culture of the two crops. Intercropping contributed to a significant reduction in seed yield of the bean genotypes due mainly to its adverse effects on the numbers of pods per plant and seeds per pod. The index tLER₁ identified most bean–maize genotype combinations of Mix. 2 as biologically more efficient system than Mix. 1. On the other hand, tLER₂ values of more than 1.00 for all treatments of Mix. 2 demonstrated higher overall productivity of the intercrop system when the bean genotypes were grown in association with a late-maturing and high yielding maize hybrid BH 140.     

Organic fertilizer effects on growth,crop yield,and soil microbial biomass indices in sole and intercropped peas and oats under organic farming conditions

In a field experiment, peas (Pisum sativum L.) and oats (Avena sativa L.) were grown as sole crops and intercrops, fertilized with horse manure and yard-waste compost derived from shrub and garden cuttings at 10 t C ha⁻¹ each. The objectives were to compare the effects of these organic fertilizer and cropping system in organic farming on (a) yield of peas and oats, grown as the sole crop or intercropped, as well as N₂ fixation and photosynthetic rates, (b) the yield of wheat as a succeeding crop, (c) microbial biomass indices in soil and roots, and (d) microbial activity estimated by the CO₂ evolution rate in the field and the amount of organic fertilizers, recovered as particulate organic matter (POM). In general, organic fertilizer application improved nodule dry weight (DW), photosynthetic rates, N₂ fixation, and N accumulation of peas as well as N concentration in oat grain. Averaged across fertilizer treatments, pea/oat intercropping significantly decreased nodule DW, N₂ fixation and photosynthetic rate of peas by 14, 17, and 12%, respectively, and significantly increased the photosynthetic rate of oats by 20%. However, the land equivalent ratio (LER) of intercropped peas and oats exceeded 1.0, indicating a yield advantage over sole cropping. Soil microbial biomass was positively correlated with pea dry matter yields both in sole and intercropped systems. Organic fertilizers increased the contents of microbial biomass C, N, P, and fungal ergosterol in soil and CO₂ production, whereas the cropping system had no effects on these microbial indices. According to the organic fertilizer recovered as POM, 70% (manure) and 64% (compost) of added C were decomposed, but only 39% (manure) and 13% (compost) could be attributed to CO₂–C during a 101-day period. This indicated that horse manure was more readily available to soil microorganisms than compost, leading to increased grain yields of the succeeding winter wheat.     

Shade Effects on Phaseolus vulgaris L. Intercropped with Zea mays L. under Well-Watered Conditions

Field experiments were carried out under unstressed conditions of soil water during two summer crop growing seasons (1998–99 and 1999–2000 seasons) in a South African semi‐arid region (Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa). The aim of this study was to investigate shade effects on beans intercropped with maize in terms of plant mass and radiation use. The experimental treatments were two cropping systems (no shading/sole cropping and shading/intercropping) and two row orientations (north–south and east–west). At the top of bean canopies shaded by maize, incident radiation was reduced by up to 90 %. Shading reduced total dry matter of beans by 67 % at the end of the growing season, resulting in yield losses. The dry matter partitioning into leaf and stem (the ratios of leaf and stem to total biomass) was about 50 % higher in intercropping than sole cropping. In contrast, intercropped beans had 40 % lower dry matter partitioning into pod (the ratio of pod to total biomass). Fraction of radiation intercepted by sole‐cropped beans steeply increased until canopy closure (0.9) and then slowly decreased, while fraction of radiation intercepted by intercropped beans remained constant between 0.0 and 0.2 throughout the growing seasons. However, intercropped beans had 77 % higher radiation use efficiency (RUE) than sole‐cropped beans. In contrast, for maize, no effect of intercropping (shading) was found on growth, partitioning, yield, radiation interception or RUE. Consequently, lower bean yield losses can be attained in association with late shading rather than early shading. This can be controlled by growing crops with different temporal and spatial treatments. As regards row treatment, no effect of row direction was found on growth, partitioning, yield, radiation interception or RUE.     

Irrigation Level Affects Isoflavone Concentrations of Early Maturing Soya Bean Cultivars

Field experiments were conducted in 2003/2004 in Québec to determine the effects of irrigation levels (none, low and high) and cultivars (AC Orford, AC Proteina and Golden) on soya bean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] isoflavone concentrations and yields. Seed yield, yield components, and oil and crude protein (CP) concentrations were concurrently determined. Response to irrigation was greater in 2003, which was substantially warmer and drier than in 2004. In both years, most responses were observed with the lower of the two irrigation levels evaluated, which increased total isoflavones concentration by an average of 45 % compared with a non‐irrigated control. Cultivars, however, responded differently to irrigation. In 2003, response of AC Proteina was greater than that of AC Orford, while Golden did not respond. In 2004, some responses were observed with AC Proteina and Golden but none with AC Orford. Overall, in both years, AC Proteina had the greatest isoflavone concentrations and AC Orford the lowest. Responses of seed yield and yield components depended on the year and were also greater in 2003. Both irrigation treatments generally increased seed yield and yield components compared with a non‐irrigated control; the response was greater with the higher irrigation level. Irrigation had no effect on oil and CP concentrations. Finally, isoflavone yield response to irrigation was again greater in 2003, and depended on the cultivar. Results thus demonstrate that specific soil moisture levels will maximize soya bean isoflavone concentrations, excess irrigation sometimes negating any potential benefits.     

干旱冷凉区红芸豆施肥效应与养分吸收研究

应用“3414”试验方案,研究了干旱冷凉区红芸豆施肥效应及红芸豆养分吸收状况。结果表明：施肥处理红芸豆产量显著高于不施肥处理,以N2P1K1处理的红芸豆产量和产投比最高。施用氮、磷、钾肥增产率分别为16.4%、8.6%和12.7%,对产量影响依次为：N＞K＞P。三元二次方程拟合结果表明,本试验条件下,氮(N)、磷(P2O5)、钾(K2O)肥最佳经济施肥量分别为99.0、140.6、108.0 kg/hm2。红芸豆生育期地力贡献率为75.7%,供试土壤肥力中等,施肥效果明显。合理施肥可促进红芸豆对N、P和K的吸收。     

氮肥和种植密度对蚕豆结瘤和生长的影响

在胶泥土和沙壤土两种土壤条件下,研究了5种氮肥用量和3种种植密度对蚕豆结瘤和生长的影响。结果表明:蚕豆在不同土壤条件下结瘤能力差异较大,在氮肥施用量低于240kg/hm²的情况下,适当提高氮肥施用量有助于提高蚕豆的结瘤能力。蚕豆的行距从25cm增加到50cm,降低了种植在胶泥土上蚕豆的结瘤能力,却提高了种植在沙壤土上蚕豆的结瘤能力。同样,适量提高氮肥的施用量,蚕豆的生物量、有效荚数、子粒产量和株高均得到提高。增加蚕豆的行距,促进蚕豆的生物量、有效荚数、子粒产量,降低了蚕豆的株高。