Search

Intercropping is a common practice among smallholder farmers cultivating common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and maize (Zea mays L.). It affects agronomic performance, dry matter partitioning, and grain yield. Simultaneous intercropping of common bean with maize can influence growth, development, and dry matter partitioning of grain of common bean. The main objectives of this study are to: (i) evaluate the dynamics of growth and development of the different vegetative organs, and (ii) determine the efficiency in dry matter partitioning to yield components of two common bean lines grown under monoculture compared with two simultaneous intercropping patterns (pattern 1, pattern 2) with maize and managed with two types of fertilizer application. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications was used in a nested trifactorial arrangement in split-plot scheme. The field experiment was conducted in two seasons under conditions of acid soils and high temperatures in the western Amazon region of Colombia. Simultaneous intercropping patterns 1 and 2 had a negative effect on growth dynamics of maize compared to maize monoculture. But the two bean lines when associated with maize showed no significant differences on growth dynamics under both types of fertilizer application. Under both intercropping patterns, the maize cobs were larger, a condition that increased the number of grains, but with smaller size of grains compared to monoculture. In the case of two bean lines, the growth and development responses were different: under monoculture the number of pods and seeds per plant was higher while the number of grains per pod increased under intercropping patterns. Among the two bean lines, 100-seed weight was significantly higher in BFS 10 compared to ALB 121. At the grain yield level of common bean, the simultaneous intercropping pattern increased 516 kg ha−1 and 993 kg ha−1 more than that obtained in monoculture (4936 kg ha−1) with inorganic and organic fertilizer, respectively. Results from this study indicated that smallholders in the Amazon region of Colombia can achieve higher grain yield through the implementation of simultaneous intercropping of maize with common bean line (BFS 10) under organic fertilizer application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with maize (Zea mays L.) is a widely used agronomic practice in smallholder farms in different regions of the world. Although it is a common practice in the Colombian Amazon region, crop yields are low due to the degradation of low fertility, acidic soil and high-temperature stress. Studies are needed on how the integration of genetically adapted common bean breeding lines into an intercropping system can benefit smallholders. The objective of this study was to: (i) evaluate differences in agronomic performance of two common bean lines when intercropped with maize in two different patterns under two types of fertilizer applications; and (ii) identify which intercropping pattern is better to maximize productivity and land use in the Colombian Amazon region. To achieve these aims, 2 field experiments (October 2018 to January 2019, season 1; April to June 2019, season 2) were conducted in the Colombian Amazon region. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in a nested trifactorial arrangement in a split-plot scheme was used. The experimental design consisted of 2 advanced bean breeding lines of BFS 10 and ALB 121 (main plots); 3 cropping system patterns, including a monoculture, intercropping pattern 1, and intercropping pattern 2 (subplots); and 2 types of fertilizer, inorganic and organic (sub-subplots), for a total of 12 treatments. The experiment was conducted in two growing seasons in low fertility, acidic soil. Different competition indices and monetary advantage index values were estimated depending on the yield and cost of production from maize and bean intercropping patterns (land equivalent ratio, LER; relative crowding coefficient, RCC; aggressiveness index, AI; competitive ratio, CR). A significant effect on grain yield was observed with both intercropping patterns compared to monocropping of beans and maize. Grain yields obtained for maize were similar under monoculture with both types of fertilizer application, while both bean lines yielded better in monoculture under the application of inorganic fertilizer. Under intercropping patterns, the yield reductions were from 8 to 30% for maize and from 43 to 72% for the 2 bean lines. LER values increased with intercropping patterns under both types of fertilization, which was supported by positive values in the actual yield loss index. The interaction indices between the two crop components showed a greater dominance of maize over beans (RCC, AI, CR). However, the intercropping systems increased the economic advantage (the monetary advantage index) over monocropping. Smallholders in the Amazon region can profit through increased grain yield as well as land-use efficiency by integrating a genetically adapted bean breeding line, BFS 10, as an intercrop with maize under the application of organic fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Intercropping of two common bean lines with maize increased photosynthetic activity. • Application of organic fertilizer induced changes in photosynthetic activity. • Grain yield correlated positively with net carbon assimilation rate. • Smallholders benefit from intercropping of common bean with maize. Acid soils in the Amazon region are characterized by low fertility and high aluminum saturation causing reduced crop yields. Improving genetic adaptation of crop genotypes together with suitable agronomic management practices can mitigate the impact on crop production in acid soils. The objective of the present study was to determine the photosynthetic and grain yield responses of two common bean lines to intercropping with maize under two types of fertilizer applications in the Colombian Amazon region. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications in a nested trifactorial arrangement was used consisting of two advanced bean lines of BFS 10 and ALB 121 (main plots); three cropping system patterns of monoculture, intercropping pattern 1, intercropping pattern 2 (subplots); and two types of fertilizer applications, chemical and organic (sub-subplots) for a total of 12 treatments. The experiment was conducted in two growing seasons and the effects of the treatments were evaluated during two growth stages within a cropping season. Measurements included photosynthetic gas exchange characteristics, chlorophyll fluorescence, specific leaf area, viability of pollen and grain yield. Mean values from two growing seasons were presented. Photosynthetic response of BFS 10 was superior to ALB 121 under both monoculture and intercropping patterns with either chemical or organic fertilizer application. Both bean lines showed an increase in apparent quantum efficiency and maximum rate of ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) carboxylation (V cmax) during pod filling growth stage when grown in association with maize, particularly with organic fertilizer application. Small farmers in the Amazon region can benefit from either one of the two bean lines by growing them as intercrops with maize, using organic fertilizer application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]