Improving Light Use, Pest Control, and Water Efficiency in Soybean-Maize Intercropping in Different Climates
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Background The article draws attention to the growing difficulties facing agriculture in water-scarce and climate-affected regions like the Mediterranean and MENA. In order to improve production and save resources, it highlights the significance of sustainable intensification through diverse cropping systems like cereal-legume intercropping. With an emphasis on genotype × environment interactions and microclimate modifications that can support sustainable food production, the study focuses on the potential of soybean-maize intercropping, especially using shade-tolerant soybean cultivars, to optimize light use, pest control, and water efficiency across contrasting climates. Results Mixed intercropping with shade-adapted Giza 111 achieved the highest land equivalent ratio (LER = 1.73), light use efficiency (LUE = 1.89 g/MJ), and net economic returns while suppressing aphids and soybean mosaic virus incidence. Pearson correlations revealed strong negative relationships between LER and pest populations (r = − 0.914, p < 0.001) and positive associations with water consumption, highlighting arid-environment trade-offs. Multiple regression models (R²=0.918–0.941) successfully predicted yield from light, pest, and water variables. Cross-climatic validation confirmed conserved light-productivity relationships but divergent water-productivity dynamics between irrigated Mediterranean and rainfed temperate systems. Shade-tolerant cultivars enhanced associational tolerance mechanisms, reducing pest pressure by > 40% through microclimate modification. Conclusions We propose a scalable conceptual framework for soybean-maize intercropping across MENA regions, emphasizing genotype selection, spatial arrangement optimization, and integrated pest management to promote sustainable food production in water-scarce agro-ecosystems. With respect to Poland's temperate climate, this study will contribute significantly to developing a model development across contrasting climatic zones.
Source: Research Square
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7203830171