Articles
Agroecological approaches affect the initial growth of pea in an intercropping system
Article number
1453_20
Pages
147 – 150
Language
English
Abstract
Agroecological approaches have gained considerable interest in recent years due to the pollution from pesticides and fertilizers in many countries.
Agroecology aims to transform agricultural systems by incorporating sustainable practices that leverage natural processes to develop innovative solutions.
One of the agroecological approaches that have been used is intercropping that has several significant advantages.
By adopting agroecological methods, farmers can reduce or entirely replace chemical inputs like herbicides while maintaining or even improving crop productivity.
The objective of the present study is to determine how intercropping affects the initial growth of pea in an intercropping system and to evaluate the weed growth.
The research was conducted during the 2023-2024 growing season at the experimental farm of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, located in northern Greece (40°32’07.7”N, 22°59’20.5”E). A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications were employed to assess pea growth and also weed growth in wheat and pea monocultures and their respective intercrops.
No pesticides or fertilizers were applied during the growing season.
There were differences in weed growth in the different treatments.
At harvest, weed biomass was measured for each experimental plot.
The results revealed that the wheat-pea intercrop provided better weed suppression compared to wheat monocultures.
Furthermore, the field pea monoculture, followed by the wheat-pea intercrop, achieved the highest leaf area index and dry yield among all treatments.
In conclusion, selecting appropriate crop species, utilizing intercrops, and optimizing sowing densities can effectively suppress weed growth, reduce dependence on herbicides, and enhance the sustainability of cropping systems.
Agroecology aims to transform agricultural systems by incorporating sustainable practices that leverage natural processes to develop innovative solutions.
One of the agroecological approaches that have been used is intercropping that has several significant advantages.
By adopting agroecological methods, farmers can reduce or entirely replace chemical inputs like herbicides while maintaining or even improving crop productivity.
The objective of the present study is to determine how intercropping affects the initial growth of pea in an intercropping system and to evaluate the weed growth.
The research was conducted during the 2023-2024 growing season at the experimental farm of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, located in northern Greece (40°32’07.7”N, 22°59’20.5”E). A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications were employed to assess pea growth and also weed growth in wheat and pea monocultures and their respective intercrops.
No pesticides or fertilizers were applied during the growing season.
There were differences in weed growth in the different treatments.
At harvest, weed biomass was measured for each experimental plot.
The results revealed that the wheat-pea intercrop provided better weed suppression compared to wheat monocultures.
Furthermore, the field pea monoculture, followed by the wheat-pea intercrop, achieved the highest leaf area index and dry yield among all treatments.
In conclusion, selecting appropriate crop species, utilizing intercrops, and optimizing sowing densities can effectively suppress weed growth, reduce dependence on herbicides, and enhance the sustainability of cropping systems.
Authors
P. Papakaloudis, Α. Michalitsis, Ε. Deligiannis, F.S.A. Alexandrou, G. Manessis, Z. Basdagianni, I. Bossis, C. Dordas
Keywords
leaf area index, dry matter, yield, weeds
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