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Bio-Agronomic Efficiency and Competitive Indices of Intercropped Durum Wheat with Faba Bean or Fenugreek in Northern Tunisia

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The study examined the effects of intercropping durum wheat with fenugreek or faba bean on agronomic performance, biological indices, competition, and profitability in Northern Tunisia during the winters of 2019 and 2020.The experiment included five treatments: durum wheat monocrop (SCDW), durum wheat-faba bean intercrop (ICDW-FB), durum wheat-fenugreek intercrop (ICDW-FG), faba bean monocrop (SCFB), and fenugreek monocrop (SCFG), arranged in a split-plot design.Intercropping showed advantages over monocropping, increasing dry matter production at maturity by 10% for the wheat-faba bean and 7% for the wheat-fenugreek combinations.Key bio-indices, including the land equivalent ratio (LER), relative efficiency index cumulative (REIC), crop growth ratio (CGR), green area index (GAI), and leaf area index (LAI), were influenced by plant density, architecture, and species, showing superior performance in intercropped systems.Overall, the wheat-faba bean intercrop outperformed other treatments in biomass production and competition indices for dry matter, light, and leaf area, demonstrating higher bio-agronomic benefits.

Source: Agricultural Research & Technology Open Access Journal

DOI: 10.19080/artoaj.2024.29.556431

Author: Zgallai Hatem

Institutions: University of Carthage, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique de Tunisie

Language: English

Topic: Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems

Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement