Rapeseed-pea intercrop outperforms wheat-legume ones in land-use efficiency in Mediterranean conditions

IF 5.6 1区农林科学 Q1 AGRONOMY Field Crops Research Pub Date : 2024-10-15 DOI:10.1016/j.fcr.2024.109612

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Abstract

Context

Intercropping has gained attention as a strategy to diversify cereal-based systems and enhance sustainability. However, its performance in Mediterranean conditions, especially in non-organic farming, remains less explored.

Objective

Assess the performance of intercropping under contrasting nitrogen (N) fertilisation levels to enhance productivity in the Mediterranean region.

Methods

Three intercropping (IC) systems were compared with their respective sole crops under on-farm irrigated conditions in the Ebro Valley (NE Spain). The mixtures included rapeseed/pea (IC-RP) and durum wheat/pea (IC-WP) over three seasons from 2021 to 2023, and durum wheat/faba bean (IC-WF) in 2022 and 2023. A row intercropping design was set at a 50/50 replacement ratio, with two N fertilisation treatments: 0 N (no mineral N) and +N (75 kg mineral N ha⁻¹, with additional pre-sowing fertilisation with pig slurry applied at 165 kg N ha⁻¹ in 2023 only). Key variables included grain yield, land equivalent ratio (LER), overyielding index, biomass and N concentration.

Results

The IC-WP and IC-WF showed reduced legumes yields due to competition, with no overyielding or increased land use efficiency (LER=0.94 and 0.86, respectively). In contrast, IC-RP exhibited increased land use efficiency (LER=1.43), though with high variability, and achieved overyielding (+9 %) in only one out of the three years.

Conclusions

Intercropping productivity in Mediterranean areas depends heavily on species selection. Pairing species with different physiology, like rapeseed and pea, promotes temporal niche differentiation and compensation mechanisms. Conversely, closer-matched species like wheat and legumes tend to intensify competition, reducing benefits.

Implications or significance

Several indicators are necessary to assess intercropping performance. Rapeseed-pea intercropping warrants deeper exploration in Mediterranean conditions.

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在地中海条件下，油菜籽-豆类间作在土地利用效率方面优于小麦-豆类间作

背景间作作为一种使以谷物为基础的系统多样化并提高可持续性的策略，已受到越来越多的关注。方法在埃布罗河谷（西班牙东北部）的农场灌溉条件下，比较了三种间作（IC）系统与各自的单一作物。混合种植包括 2021 年至 2023 年三季的油菜籽/豌豆（IC-RP）和硬质小麦/豌豆（IC-WP），以及 2022 年和 2023 年的硬质小麦/蚕豆（IC-WF）。行间套种设计的替代率为 50/50，有两种氮肥处理：0 N（无矿物氮）和 +N（每公顷 75 千克矿物氮，仅在 2023 年播种前用猪粪施肥，每公顷 165 千克氮）。主要变量包括谷物产量、土地当量比（LER）、超产指数、生物量和氮浓度。结果 IC-WP 和 IC-WF 由于竞争导致豆科植物减产，但没有超产或土地利用效率提高（LER 分别为 0.94 和 0.86）。相比之下，IC-RP 的土地利用效率有所提高（LER=1.43），但变化很大，三年中只有一年实现了超产（+9%）。将油菜籽和豌豆等生理机能不同的物种搭配在一起，可促进时间上的生态位分化和补偿机制。相反，小麦和豆科植物等匹配度较高的物种往往会加剧竞争，从而降低效益。油菜籽-豆类间作值得在地中海条件下进行更深入的探索。

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来源期刊

Field Crops Research 农林科学-农艺学

CiteScore

9.60

自引率

12.10%

发文量

307

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Field Crops Research is an international journal publishing scientific articles on: √ experimental and modelling research at field, farm and landscape levels on temperate and tropical crops and cropping systems, with a focus on crop ecology and physiology, agronomy, and plant genetics and breeding.