Radiation Capture and Use Efficiency and Productivity in Single and

Najibnia, S; Koocheki, A; Nasiri Mahalati, M; Porsa, H

doi:10.22067/gsc.v10i2.16037

Radiation Capture and Use Efficiency and Productivity in Single and

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

10.22067/gsc.v10i2.16037

Abstract

In order to evaluate radiation capture and use efficiency and productivity in sole and intercropping of three
crops, rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and corn (Zea mays L.), an experiment was
conducted in Mashhad region during the growing season of 2007-2008. In this study six treatments including
three sole cropping of the crops (rapeseed sown in 22 September 2007, corn and bean in 29 April 2008) and
three intercroppig including double cropping (simultaneous sowing of corn and bean in 29 April 2008), two
stages-relay intercropping of rapeseed, corn and bean (rapeseed in 22 September 2007, bean and corn in 29 April
2008) and finally tree stages-relay intercropping of rapeseed, corn and bean (rapeseed in 22 September 2007,
bean in 8 April 2008 and corn in 29 April 2008) were arranged in complete randomised blocks design with three
replications. Based on results, cropping combination affected radiation capture and use efficiency and also
radiation productivity, significantly (p≤0.05). In which, among intercropping treatments, double cropping
showed the highest capture efficiency (0.54), the highest radiation use efficiency and radiation productivity in
terms of seed yield (0.23 and 0.13 g.m-2.Mj-1, respectively) and also the highest radiation productivity in terms of
biological yield (0.50 g.m-2.Mj-1) and tree stages-relay intercropping the highest radiation use efficiency in terms
of biological yield (0.92 g.m-2.Mj-1). Among sole croppings, bean showed the highest capture efficincy (0.49)
and corn the highest use efficiency in terms of biological and seed yield (1.80 and 0.65 g.m-2.Mj-1, respectively)
and the highest radiation productivity in terms of biological and seed yield (0.72 and 0.26 g.m-2.Mj-1,
respectively) too. In general, double cropping were the best treatment in terms of capture efficincy and corn sole
croppig in terms of radiation use efficiency in terms of biological and seed yield and productivity in terms of
biological and seed yield. Generally, it seems that such cropping combinations will not be suitable because of
shading effect of rapeseed on young seedlings of bean and corn; therefore it is nessesary to adjust more proper
planting dates in which growth period of companion crops have less overlapping with growth period of rapseed

Keywords