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Seed Yield of Austrian Winter Field Peas Intercropped with Winter Cereals 1
Author(s) -
Murray G. A.,
Swensen J. B.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1985.00021962007700060019x
Subject(s) - agronomy , intercropping , sativum , sowing , hordeum vulgare , loam , biology , monocropping , field pea , winter wheat , crop , field experiment , poaceae , soil water , agriculture , ecology , cropping
Intercropping has improved the production of annual food grasses and legumes in several warm‐season areas of the world. Winter cereals intercropped with winter peas may improve winter pea yields in many cool‐season areas. The primary objective of this study was to compare seed yield of winter peas in mono‐ and intercropped culture in northern Idaho. Winter peas ( Pisum sativum spp. arvense L. Poir) were intercropped with either winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) or winter barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) on a Tilma silt loam (fine, mixed, mesic Xeric Argialboll) in 1980–1981 and on a Palouse silt loam (fine‐silty, mixed, mesic Pachic Ultic Haploxeroll) in 1981–1982. Winter peas and winter cereals were planted either alone or in mixtures containing 25, 50, or 75% winter peas. Seeding rates of 67 and 90 kg ha −1 were used for both monocrops and intercrops. All trials were conducted in fields that had been fallowed for 1 yr prior to planting the intercropping studies. Winter peas in mixtures with 25% winter cereals produced seed yields equal to or 27% greater than ( P < 0.05) monocropped winter peas. Winter cereal yields were reduced an average of 60% ( P < 0.05) when mixed with 25% winter peas (20 winter pea plants m −2 ). Monocropped winter wheat and winter barley produced higher seed yields than intercrops and monocrop winter peas under adequate N conditions, but winter peas produced higher seed yields than intercrops or monocrop winter cereals when N was partially limiting in the spring due to water logging. Seeding rate had no influence on seed yield but did increase plant populations of each species. Winter peas were compatible with winter cereals in both planting and grain harvesting requirements and pea seed can be easily separated from harvested mixtures.