Title:	Optimum plant population for maize-bean intercropping system in the Brazilian semi-arid region.
Authors:	MORGADO, L. B. WILLEY, R. W.
Affiliation:	LUIZ BALBINO MORGADO, CPATSA ROBERT WILLIAM WILLEY, UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA.
Date Issued:	2008
Citation:	Scientia Agrícola, v. 65, n. 5, p. 474-480, 2008.
Description:	Establishment of the ideal number of plant is a crucial point for obtaining maximum profits while cropping different species together. The main objective of the study was to investigate the effect of different plant populations of maize and beans, at two nitrogen levels, on the performance of the component crops. Two maize (20,000 and 40,000 plants ha –1 ) and three bean (30,000; 60,000 and 90,000 plants ha–1 ) populations were tested in a randomized complete block design with tree replicates. Grain yields of maize and beans were affected by intercropping and the effect was more detrimental to the legume mainly at the highest maize plant population. The application of nitrogen fertilizer to maize rows mitigated intercropping effect on maize at higher population (40,000 plants ha–1 ) and, at lower maize plant population (20,000 plants ha–1 ), benefited the associated beans by increasing grain yields. Land Equivalent Ratio values for grain yields of maize and beans showed that intercropping compared to sole cropping is advantageous and best indices were obtained at a bean plant population of 60,000 plants ha –1 .
Thesagro:	Adubação Feijão Milho Phaseolus Vulgaris Zea Mays
NAL Thesaurus:	Cowpeas Cropping systems Plant density
Keywords:	Consórcio Sistema de plantio Densidade de plantas Nordeste
Type of Material:	Artigo de periódico
Access:	openAccess
Appears in Collections:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CPATSA)