THE EFFECT OF UNDERSOWN INTERCROP ROTATION ON SOIL PROPERTIES IN A MAIZE CROP

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of a change of under-sown intercrops on soil displacement properties and yield in a maize crop. The experiment was carried out in 2023 as a stationary field experiment located at the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy. In the year of the experiment, maize (Zea mays L.) is grown with bean (Fabaceae) intercrops. K1 is inter-row loosening (control 1); K2 is inter-row mulching with weeds (control 2); LUP is faba bean undersown; PUD is crimson clover undersown; PED is Persian clover undersown; MEL is blue-flowered alfalfa undersown. There are 6 treatments in total.

When increasing the pressure in the (0–5 cm) and (5–10 cm) soil layers, significant differences only became apparent at the maximum pressure of 15500 hPa. The faba bean, crimson clover intercrop, and the first control retained moisture in the (0–5 cm) soil layer 25% better than the blue-flowered alfalfa treatment. Similar results were found in the deeper soil layer (5–10 cm) tested. The faba bean intercrop (42%) and the first control (33%) retained more moisture than the blue-flowered alfalfa treatment. In the deepest soil layer (15–20 cm), at a pressure of -15500 hPa, the second control, where inter-row mulching with weeds was carried out, had a 33% higher moisture content than the blue-flowered alfalfa undersown crop.

Intercropping with beans tended to significantly reduce maize grain yields compared to the control. Maize grain yields were almost 1.5 times significantly lower when grown in combination with blue-flowered alfalfa.