Productivity of wheat/faba bean intercropping systems in response to sulphur fertilization and seed rate under contrasting management conditions

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/03/2012
Views (266) Download (12)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Productivity of wheat/faba bean intercropping systems in response to sulphur fertilization and seed rate under contrasting management conditions

Ibrahim Yahuza
Int. J. Agron. Agri. Res.2( 3), 41-58, March 2012.
Certificate: IJAAR 2012 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

Two field experiments carried out in contrasting production system (conventional versus organic) investigated the effects of sulphur (S) fertilization and wheat seed rate in wheat/faba bean (bean) intercropping system. For the conventional experiment, S fertilization reduced wheat seed yields and biomass yields substantially. Maximum wheat seed yields were 278 g/m2 and 391 g/m2 for S applied and S withheld respectively. On the other hand, at 200 wheat seeds/m2 application of S significantly increased bean intercrop seed yield. Bean seed yields were 195.8 g/m2 and 81.9 g/m2 for S and without S respectively. For the seed yield, based on crop performance ratio (CPR), wheat in the intercrop was more efficient than the sole crop only at 200 wheat seeds/m2 when S was withheld as indicated by CPR value of 1.11. The maximum CPR for the bean of 1.87 was obtained at 200 wheat seeds/m2 when S was applied. For both wheat and bean, application of S had no substantial effects on harvest index. Whilst application of S had a positive effects on accumulated photosynthetically active radiation by the intercrop, radiation use efficiency was conservative in response to S fertilization. For the conventional experiment, it was concluded that bean competed with the wheat intensely for S than for N leading to higher yields for the bean when S was applied than when S was withheld. Hence, wheat intercrop seed yields were substantially reduced when S was applied. By contrast, in the organic experiment, S fertilization had no significant effects on the above-mentioned variables.

VIEWS 4

Andersen MK, Hauggaard-Nielsen H, Hogh-Jensen HA, Jensen ES. 2007. Competition for and utilization of sulphur in sole and intercrops of pea and barley. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 77, 143-153.

Asare E, Scarisbrick DH. 1995. Rate of nitrogen and sulphur fertilizers on yield, yield components and seed quality of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). Field Crops Research 44, 41-46.

Azam-Ali SN, Mathews RB, Williams JH, Peacock JM. 1990. Light use, water uptake and performance of individual components of a sorghum/groundnut intercrop. Experimental Agriculture 26, 413-427.

Bulson HAJ, Snaydon RN, Stopes CE. 1997. Effects of plant density on intercropped wheat and field beans in an organic farming system. Journal of Agricultural Sciences 128, 59-71.

Confalone A, Lizaso JI, Ruiz-nogueira B, Lopez-cedron F, Sau F. 2010. Growth, PAR use efficiency, and yield components of field-grown Vicia faba L. under different temperature and photoperiod regimes. Field Crops Research 115, 140-148.

David C, Jeuffroy MH, Laurent M, Mangin A, Meynard JM. 2005. The assessment of azodyn-org model managing nitrogen fertilization of organic winter wheat. European Journal of Agronomy 23, 225-242.

Flaete NES, Hollung K, Ruud L, Sogn T, Faergestad EM, Skarpeid HJ, Magnus EM, Uhlen AK. 2005. Combined nitrogen and sulphur fertilization and its effect on wheat quality and protein measured by SE-FPLC and proteomics. Journal of Cereal Science 41, 357-369.

Garrido-Lestache, E, Lopez-bellido, RJ, Lopez-bellido, LE. 2005. Durum wheat quality under Mediterranean conditions as affected by N rate, timing and splitting, N form and S fertilization. European Journal of Agronomy 23, 265-278.

Genstat 8 committee. 2006. Genstat 8.1 release 8.1. Rothamsted experimental station, United Kingdom.

Gooding MJ, Davies WP. 1997. Wheat production and utilization system, quality and the environment. Wallingford: UK, CABI.

Gooding MJ, Kasyanova E, Ruske R, Hauggaard-Nielsen H, Jensen ES, Dahlmann C, Von Fragstein P, Dibet A, Corre-Hellouu G, Crozat Y, Pristeri A, Romeo M, Monti M, Launay M. 2007. Intercropping with pulses to concentrate nitrogen and sulphur in wheat. Journal of Agricultural Science 145, 469-479.

Gooding MJ, Pinyosinwat A, Ellis RH. 2002. Responses of wheat grain yield and quality to seed rate. Journal of Agricultural Science 138, 317-331

Harris D, Natarajan M, Willey RW. 1987. Physiological basis for yield advantage in a sorghum/groundnut intercrop exposed to drought 1: dry matter production, yield and light interception. Field Crops Research 17, 259-272.

Haymes R, Lee HC. 1999. Competition between autumn and spring planted grain intercrops of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and field bean (Vicia faba). Field crops Research 62,167-176.

Huxham SK, Sparks DL, Wilson P. 2005. The effect of conversion strategy on the yield of the first organic crop. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment 106, 345-357.

Mathot M, Mertens J, Verlinden G, Lambert R. 2008. Positive effect of sulphur fertilization on grassland yield and quality in Belgium. European Journal of Agronomy 28, 655-658.

Salvagiotti F, Miralles DJ. 2008. Radiation interception, biomass production and grain yield as affected by the interaction of nitrogen and sulfur fertilization in wheat. European Journal of Agronomy 28, 282-290.

Salvagiotti F, Castellarin JM, Miralles DJ, Pedrol HM. 2009. Sulfur fertilization improves nitrogen use efficiency in wheat by increasing nitrogen uptake. Field Crops Research 113, 170-177.

Scherer HW. 2001. Sulphur in crop production. European Journal of Agronomy 14, 81-111.

Scherer, HW, Lange, A. 1996. N2 fixation and growth of legumes as affected by sulphur fertilization. Biology and Fertility of Soils 23, 449-453.

Sexton PJ, Paek NC, Shibles RM. 1998. Effects of nitrogen source and timing of sulphur deficiency on seed yield and expression of 11S and 7S seed storage proteins of soybean. Field Crops Research 59, 1-8.

Tellec T, Diquelou S, Lemauviel S, Cliquet JB, Lesuffleur F, Ourry A. 2008. Nitrogen: sulphur ratio alters competition between Trifolium repens and Lolium perenne under cutting: production and competitive abilities. European Journal of Agronomy 29, 94-101.

Thomas SG, Hocking TJ, Bilsborrow PE. 2003. Effect of sulphur fertilization on the growth and metabolism of sugar beet grown on soils of differing sulphur status. Field Crops Research 83, 223-225.

Wieser H, Gutser R, von Tucher, S. 2004. Influence of sulphur fertilization on quantities and proportions of gluten protein types in wheat flour. Journal of Cereal Science 40, 239-244.

Willey, RW, Heath, SB. 1969. The quantitative relationship between plant population and crop yield. Advances in Agronomy 21, 281-321.

Yahuza I. 2011a. Review of radiation interception and radiation use efficiency in intercropping in relation to the analysis of wheat/faba bean intercropping system. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences 1 (5), 1-15.

Yahuza I. 2011b. Review of some methods of calculating intercrop efficiencies with particular reference to the estimates of intercrop benefits in wheat/faba bean system. International Journal of Bioscience 1 (5), 18-30.

Yahuza I. 2011c. Yield-density equations and their application for agronomic research: a review. International Journal of Bioscience 1 (5), 1-17.

Yahuza I. 2011d. Wheat /faba bean intercropping system in perspective. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences 1 (6), 69-92.

Zadoks JC, Chang, TT, Konzak CF. 1974. A decimal code for the growth stages of cereals. Weed Research 14, 415-421.

Zhao FJ, Hawkesford MJ, McGrath SP. 1999. Sulphur assimilation and effect on yield and quality of wheat. Journal of Cereal Science 30, 1-17.