Effect of intercropping soybean with sorghum on yield and its components of the two crops

Gadallah, R.A. and S.b.Ragheb*

Abstract

A field trial was conducted at Sids Agricultural Research Station., Beni-Sweif Governorate during the summer of season 2010 and 2011 to evaluate the effect of intercropping of soybean with sorghum of different patterns on yield and its components of the two crops. A split plot design with three replications, where main plots contained three intercropping patterns (P1) 100% sorghum+25%soybean, (P2) 100% sorghum+ 50% soybean and (P3) 100% sorghum+75% soybean. However sub plot comprised Giza 35, Giza 83 and Giza 111 soybean cultivars. The results indicated that sorghum yield/fad. Gave the highest at 100% sorghum +25% soybean cultivars Giza 83 it was decreased with increasing soybean percentage. Seed yield/fad. of soybean was higher when Giza 111 cultivar at 75% intercropped to sorghum compared with Giza 35 and Giza 83 cultivars. The highest land equivalent ratios (LER) were 1.55 and 1.56 while land equivalent coefficient (LEC) were 0.59 and 0.60 when intercropping patterns (100% sorghum+75% Giza 111 soybean cultivar) in the first and the second seasons, respectively. The aggressivity (Agg) of soybean was dominant while sorghum was dominated at (100% sorghum + 75% soybean cultivar). The greater values competitive ratio (CR) of soybean were 1.18 and 1.05 while sorghum were 1.11 and 1.16 when intercropping patterns (100% sorghum+25% soybean Giza 35 cultivar and 75% soybean Giza 111 cultivar The highest values monetary advantage index (MAI) were 1982.74 and 2509.07 while the highest monetary advantage ratio (MER) were 1.47 was 1.52 when observed intercrop (100% sorghum + 75% soybean Giza 111 cultivar in the first and the second seasons, respectively.

Key words

Intercropping patterns, sorghum, soybean, competitive relationships.