Interactive effects of inoculation techniques and soybean varieties on a maize-soybean system
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Conventional cropping systems may contribute to declining soil fertility and crop productivity. Maize-soybean intercropping offers a potential approach to improve resource use and overall crop productivity. Therefore, a field study was conducted at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, to evaluate the effects of soybean variety and inoculation technique on the productivity of soybean intercropped with spring-planted maize. Three soybean varieties (Ajmeri, Rawal-1, and NARC-2) were evaluated in combination with three inoculation techniques: no inoculation, soil inoculation, and seed inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum. It was hypothesized that inoculation, particularly seed inoculation, would improve soybean performance and contribute to enhanced productivity of the maize-soybean intercropping system. All soybean varieties were intercropped with maize in 90-cm-spaced double-row strips. The interaction between soybean variety and inoculation technique significantly affected maize 1,000-grain weight, biological yield, and grain yield. Soil-inoculated Rawal-1 produced the highest values (287.33 g, 19.03 t·ha−1, and 6.96 t·ha−1, respectively), whereas uninoculated Ajmeri recorded the lowest (235.00 g, 11.89 t·ha−1, and 4.11 t·ha−1). For soybean, the interaction significantly affected all measured traits, with seed-inoculated Rawal-1 producing the highest pods plant−1 (125.74), 1,000-seed weight (147.07 g), grain yield (1.23 t·ha−1), and seed oil content (19.29%). Hence, uninoculated Ajmeri showed the lowest performance. Overall, optimizing soybean variety and inoculation technique can enhance maize-soybean intercropping productivity, with Rawal-1 showing strong potential: soil inoculation favored maize productivity, while seed inoculation maximized soybean yield and seed quality.
Source: Circular Agricultural Systems
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7221007259