Response of Maize and Soybean to Intercropping Systems and Nitrogen Fertilization

A., Gomaa M.; Zen El-Dein, Atef A.M.; El-Sorady, Gawhara A.; Salama, Noha G.A.

doi:10.21608/eajbsh.2025.455898

Response of Maize and Soybean to Intercropping Systems and Nitrogen Fertilization

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Plant Production Dep., Faculty of Agriculture (Saba Basha), Alexandria University, Egypt.

² Crop Intensification Research Dep., Field Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza, Egypt.

10.21608/eajbsh.2025.455898

Abstract

A field experiment were carried out during seasons at Etay El-Baroud, Research Station, El Beheira Governorate, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Giza, Egypt during 2023 and 2024 to study the effect of four intercropping patterns of soybean (Glycine max, L.) cv., Giza 111 with maize (Zea mays, L.) cv., Yellow SC 173 i.e. [2 ridges of maize: 2 ridges of soybean (P1), 3 ridges of maize: 3 ridges of soybean (P2), maize was sown in a monoculture crop (P3) and soybean was sown in a monoculture crop (P4) under three N fertilizer points, i.e. (N1: 75 kg nitrogen /feddan, N2: 100 kg nitrogen /feddan and N3: 125 kg nitrogen /feddan) on intercropping patterns and sole crops. The experiments were designed as split plot design in four replicates. Results indicated that sowing maize in pure stand (P3) followed by maize in intercropping pattern (P1) recorded the highest values of yield and its components of maize in 2023 and 2024 seasons. All traits of maize have reached the maximum values with 125 kg nitrogen/feddan (N3) in the two seasons. Kernels yield / feddan was significantly affected by interaction in 2023 and 2024 season, the highest values were obtained when sowing maize in pure stand (P3) followed by grown maize in intercropping pattern (2maize:2soybean) (P1) when it fertilized of 125 kg N/fed (N3). Sowing soybean in a monoculture crop (P4) recorded the maximum values of seed yield / feddan, followed by grown soybean in intercropping (3maize:3soybean) (P2) in both seasons. Soybean was fertilized of 125 kg N/fed (N3) resulted the maximum values for all traits under intercropping patterns in the two seasons. LER and K achieved the highest values by (2maize:2soybean) (P1) and application of 125 kg N/fed which reached 1.343 and 1.380 as well as 6.124 and 9.143 in 2023 and 2024 seasons, respectively.

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