Yield and Yield Components of Sorghum and Soybeans of Varying Plant Heights when Intercropped

Elmore, R. W.; Jackobs, J. A.

Yield and Yield Components of Sorghum and Soybeans of Varying Plant Heights when Intercropped

1984

Elmore, R. W. | Jackobs, J. A.

A 2-year field study was conducted to examine the effects of different sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) plant heights on yield and yield components of both sorghum and soybeans (Glycine max L. Merr.) and to compare production of intercrop and monoculture cropping systems. In 1977, ‘Amsoy 71’ soybeans were planted with a short (1.2 m) and a tall (1.6 m) sorghum cultivar in alternate 0.38 m rows on a Drummer silty clay loam (Mollisol, fine-silty, mixed, mesic Typic Haplaquoll). In 1978, two short (1.3 m) and two tall (1.6 m) sorghum cultivars were intercropped with four soybean cultivars in 0.4 and 0.8 m rows on a Coto clay (Oxisol, clayey, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic Tropeptic Haplorthox). Soybean yields with tall sorghum were 71 and 18% less than those with short sorghum for 1977 and 1978, respectively. These reductions were due to fewer pods/plant in both years, fewer seeds/pod in 1978, and decreased seed weight in 1977. Narrow rows increased soybean yields 50% with short sorghum and by 35% with tall sorghum in 1978. Intercrop tall sorghum yields were greater than short sorghum yields by 86% in 1977 and 74% in 1978. All yield components except plants/ha contributed to the increase in 1978. Intercrop soybean yields were 37 and 69% of monoculture yields in 1977 and 1978, respectively. Intercrop sorghum yields were 40 and 45% of monoculture yields in 1977 and 1978, respectively. Land equivalent ratios were not different in 1977, but in 1978 they were greater with tall sorghum than with short sorghum, 1.17 vs 1.10, and were greater in intercrop than in monoculture, 1.14 vs 1.00.

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