Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXVII, Issue 1
Written by Petre Marian BREZEANU, Silvica AMBĂRUȘ, Andreea TREMURICI, Alexandru BUTE, Mariana CALARA, Dan Ioan AVASILOAIEI, Gabriel Alin IOSOB, Creola BREZEANU
Bean maize intercropping is an old cultivation scheme practiced at small scale by traditional farmers in Romania. Literature highlights the benefits of intercropping and the constrains related extension of this practice on largest areas. Studies on interspecific interactions have paramount importance in view of development of feasible approaches of environmentally friendly cultivation practices and for genetic improvement specific for performance in intercropping. Five climbing bean varieties were evaluated in sole cropping and in intercropping with one type of sweet maize cultivar. Sowing was successively caried out in an interval of 30 days, bean following maize. The performance of bean genotypes in each cropping system was assessed by phenotyping, of different traits. The results show a significant bean genotype × cropping system interaction for flowering and for seed yield. The most competitive bean varieties were taller, more vigorous, and late to maturity. Diversification of cultural systems by implementing bean maize intercropping seems to be an effective strategy in pest management, and further research will provide a basis for incorporating practical pest control schemes into intercropping systems.
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