Premium
Further Trials with Intercropping of Corn in Established Sods
Author(s) -
Kurtz Touby,
Melsted S. W.,
Bray R. H.,
Breland H. L.
Publication year - 1952
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1952.03615995001600030015x
Subject(s) - intercropping , agronomy , moisture , competition (biology) , environmental science , nitrogen , foxtail , adaptability , biology , mathematics , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry
This paper reports a continuation of trials in which corn is grown in cultivated slits in previously established sods of several single grasses and legumes. An attempt was made to estimate the nitrogen needs of the corn under different intercrops and to determine which intercrops were most adaptable and desirable in this system. Some data on soil moisture under the different systems are reported. With adequate nitrogen, yields of corn in intercrops varied from around 80% of, to approximately the same as, the yields obtained under conventional systems. Among the legumes, Ladino clover and birdsfoot trefoil survived longest as intercrops. While all intercrops competed strongly with the corn for nitrogen, competition by the grasses was most severe and little difference was shown among the grasses with respect to survival and adaptability. Changes in soil moisture were more rapid under intercrop systems because of deeper and more rapid penetration of rainfall and because of utilization of moisture by the intercrop.