In natural ecosystems, plant communities composed of functionally diverse species produce more biomass overall than less diverse communities. This increased biomass production is thought to occur due to complementary use of resources such as nutrients and water. Also yields in intercrops depend on planting patterns of the mixed species in interaction with local growing conditions. In order to assessment of advantage and competitive behavior in sesame-cowpea intercrops, five planting systems included sole sesame, sole cowpea, 50:50 sesame-cowpea intercropping, 75:25 sesame-cowpea intercropping and 25:75 sesame-cowpea intercropping were compared, using randomized complete block design during 2014. Intercropping indices revealed that, LER and AYL were greater for the 50:50 sesame-cowpea mixtures indicating that in these systems, there was an advantage of intercropping for exploiting the resources of the environment. CR, A and AYL partial values were greater for sesame than cowpea indicating that sesame was more competitive partner than cowpea. In general, according to the competition indices, intercropping of 50:50 sesame-cowpea compared to monoculture plots was highly productive. The results indicate that intercropping of 50:50 sesame-cowpeas through maximum efficient acquisition of resources could raise the productivity toward sustainable agriculture.
Aminifar, J., Ramroudi, M., Galavi, M., & Mohsenabadi, G. (2016). Assessment of Sesame-Cowpea Intercrops Function by Competition Indices. Research in Crop Ecosystems, 3(1 , 2), 1-9.
MLA
Jasem Aminifar; Mahmoud Ramroudi; Mohammad Galavi; GholamReza Mohsenabadi. "Assessment of Sesame-Cowpea Intercrops Function by Competition Indices", Research in Crop Ecosystems, 3, 1 , 2, 2016, 1-9.
HARVARD
Aminifar, J., Ramroudi, M., Galavi, M., Mohsenabadi, G. (2016). 'Assessment of Sesame-Cowpea Intercrops Function by Competition Indices', Research in Crop Ecosystems, 3(1 , 2), pp. 1-9.
VANCOUVER
Aminifar, J., Ramroudi, M., Galavi, M., Mohsenabadi, G. Assessment of Sesame-Cowpea Intercrops Function by Competition Indices. Research in Crop Ecosystems, 2016; 3(1 , 2): 1-9.
)