Integrated crop managements through optimal planting date and nitrogen fertilizer levels in wheat – sugar beet association on competitive relationships and yield advantages

Kamel S. A. Badr **; Mohamed I. Salwau*; Sadek A. S.*; Kamel A. El – Doby**

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out in Sers El – Lian Research Station (A.R.C) Menofyia Governorate, Egypt in 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons to investigate the effect of three sowing dates of wheat with sugar beet, four intercropping patterns and three nitrogen fertilizer levels on competitive relationships, yield advantage and cereal units of wheat with sugar beet. A split – split plot design with three replications was used. The most import results can be summarized as follows: The highest value of land equivalent ratio (LER) 1.36 was obtained when sowing wheat with sugar beet at the first irrigation and intercropping patterns (100% sugar beet + 33.3% wheat) in ridges at 120 Kg N/fed (D2 × S3 × N3) in combined analysis of two seasons. The best results for relative crowding coefficient (K) was (15.12) achieved with wheat planting at second irrigation of sugar beet with intercropping pattern (100% + 25%) sugar beet/wheat in ridges (60 cm wide) and fertilized by 100 Kg N/fed (D3 × S1 × N2) in combined analysis of the two seasons. Combined data over two seasons of aggressivity (A) revealed that wheat was the dominant component and sugar beet was dominated in combined analysis. Aggressivity values were increased with wheat planting at first irrigation of sugar beet under combination between different intercropping pattern and nitrogen fertilizer rates the highest values (0.62) was obtained at first irrigation of sugar beet with intercropping pattern (100% sugar beet + 25% wheat) on beds and 80 or 100 Kg N/fed (D2 × S2 × N1 or N2). Whereas, the lowest values (0.17) of A were showed with the second irrigation of sugar beet with two factors (D3 × S3 × N3). The highest values of cereal units (113.80)/fed was obtained when wheat just before the first irrigation of sugar beet and intercropping pattern (100% sugar beet + 33.3% wheat) in ridges and 120 Kg N/fed (D2 × S3 × N3). in combined analysis of two seasons. While the lowest one (97.76) cereal unit/fed was obtained with sugar beet at the same irrigation with intercropping pattern (100% sugar beet + 33.3% wheat) on beds and 80 Kg N/fed (D1 × S4 × N1).

Key words

wheat – sugar beet – intercropping – competitive relationships – yield advantageous – cereal units