Original scientific paper
ASSESSING THE LAND EQUIVALENT RATIO (LER) OF TWO CORN [ZEA MAYS L.] VARIETIES INTERCROPPING AT VARIOUS NITROGEN LEVELS IN KARAJ, IRAN
Mazaheri Dariush
Madani Ahad
Oveysi Meysam
Abstract
The experiment was carried out to study effect of two corn varieties intercropping combinations (75%SC704:25%SC604, 50%SC704:50%SC604, 25%SC704:75%SC604) on land use efficiency at various nitrogen levels (150, 200, and 250 kg ha-1) using the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER). Intercropping combinations had significant (p<0.01) effect on LER for grain and biological yield. Maximum LERs of 1.066 and 1.039 for grain and biological yield were attained by
50%SC704:50%SC604 intercropping combination indicates that the area planted to monocultures would need to be 6.6% and 3.9% greater than the area planted to the intercrop for the two to produce the same combined grain and biological yield, respectively. At all of nitrogen levels, 50%SC704:50%SC604 combination showed yield advantage (Total LER > 1.0) compared monoculture in equal land area. Nitrogen levels had no significant effect on LER for grain
and biological yield. How ever, maximum LERs of 1.032% and 1.022% for grain and biological yield were attained by middle (200 kg ha-1) nitrogen level.
Keywords
Land equivalent Ratio; LER; Corn; Nitrogen; Yield
Hrčak ID:
17370
URI
Publication date:
18.10.2006.
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