Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
Maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean ( Glycine max L. Merr.) were intercropped in various planting patterns, and at varying densities and nitrogen rates to determine if such mixtures could provide forage superior to pure maize for ruminants. In 1980 all but one intercrop pattern had dry matter (DM) yields similar to maize monoculture even when every second maize row was replaced with a soybean row. In all studies soybean alone yielded about half that of maize yield alone. Density studies in 1981 and 1982 showed yields similar to maize alone. However, experiments both years indicated that maize row densities at least double normal were needed to maintain yields. Intercrop yields were highly responsive to maize densities but weakly responsive to soybean densities. In 1983 nitrogen (N) economy was examined. After a basal N application of 15 kg/ha before planting, the monocultures and one intercrop had subsequent N rates spread over the entire planted area while a second intercrop had subsequent N rates between maize rows. Forage yields increased in maize monoculture and both intercrops with increased N, however applying N only to maize rows was most efficient. Applying 90 kg/ha of N only to maize rows in the intercrop produced 27% more forage than applying the same N to both maize and soybean, 15% more than maize alone at the same N rate, and 93% of maize alone at the 180 kg/ha rate. In the above studies protein concentration was increased from about 70 to 80 g/kg for maize monoculture to about 90 to 110 g/kg for intercrops. All intercrops produced from about 8 to 17% more protein than maize monoculture.
Citation
Herbert, S J.; Putnam, D H.; and Vargas, A, "Forage Production from Maize: Soybean Intercrops" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 19.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses14/19)
Included in
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Forage Production from Maize: Soybean Intercrops
Kyoto Japan
Maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean ( Glycine max L. Merr.) were intercropped in various planting patterns, and at varying densities and nitrogen rates to determine if such mixtures could provide forage superior to pure maize for ruminants. In 1980 all but one intercrop pattern had dry matter (DM) yields similar to maize monoculture even when every second maize row was replaced with a soybean row. In all studies soybean alone yielded about half that of maize yield alone. Density studies in 1981 and 1982 showed yields similar to maize alone. However, experiments both years indicated that maize row densities at least double normal were needed to maintain yields. Intercrop yields were highly responsive to maize densities but weakly responsive to soybean densities. In 1983 nitrogen (N) economy was examined. After a basal N application of 15 kg/ha before planting, the monocultures and one intercrop had subsequent N rates spread over the entire planted area while a second intercrop had subsequent N rates between maize rows. Forage yields increased in maize monoculture and both intercrops with increased N, however applying N only to maize rows was most efficient. Applying 90 kg/ha of N only to maize rows in the intercrop produced 27% more forage than applying the same N to both maize and soybean, 15% more than maize alone at the same N rate, and 93% of maize alone at the 180 kg/ha rate. In the above studies protein concentration was increased from about 70 to 80 g/kg for maize monoculture to about 90 to 110 g/kg for intercrops. All intercrops produced from about 8 to 17% more protein than maize monoculture.
