Weed-suppressive effects of maize-legume intercropping in organic farming

dc.contributor.author	Bilalis, D	en
dc.contributor.author	Papastylianou, P	en
dc.contributor.author	Konstantas, A	en
dc.contributor.author	Patsiali, S	en
dc.contributor.author	Karkanis, A	en
dc.contributor.author	Efthimiadou, A	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-06-06T06:50:50Z
dc.date.available	2014-06-06T06:50:50Z
dc.date.issued	2010	en
dc.identifier.issn	0967-0874	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://62.217.125.90/xmlui/handle/123456789/5181
dc.subject	competition	en
dc.subject	intercropping	en
dc.subject	maize	en
dc.subject	legumes	en
dc.subject	bean	en
dc.subject	cowpea	en
dc.subject	weed flora	en
dc.subject	organic agriculture	en
dc.subject	weed suppression	en
dc.subject.classification	Entomology	en
dc.subject.other	FIELD PEA	en
dc.subject.other	MANAGEMENT	en
dc.subject.other	CROP	en
dc.subject.other	SYSTEMS	en
dc.subject.other	BARLEY	en
dc.subject.other	WHEAT	en
dc.subject.other	COMPETITION	en
dc.subject.other	LIGHT	en
dc.subject.other	SOIL	en
dc.subject.other	PRODUCTIVITY	en
dc.title	Weed-suppressive effects of maize-legume intercropping in organic farming	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.language	English	en
heal.publicationDate	2010	en
heal.abstract	In organic agriculture, intercropping is receiving increasing attention as it offers potential advantages for increasing sustainability in crop production. However, intercropping can increase competition between crops and weeds. In this study, we analyzed the effects of maize-legume intercrops on the weed community in an organic cropping system. We were concerned only with competition between crops and weeds for light. We recorded a statistically significant negative correlation between the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation (F-int PAR) intercepted by the canopy, and both weed density and weed dry matter. Maize-legume intercropping led to a higher soil canopy cover (leaf area index) than sole crops. The lowest values for Fint PAR were received in sole crops. Thus, in maize-legume intercrops the decrease in available light for weeds led to a reduction of weed density and dry matter, compared to sole crops. Intercropping maize and legumes considerably reduced the weed density in the intercrop compared with the maize pure stand. Weed suppression by crops was also greater on a low-productivity site than on a high-productivity site. Our results indicate that intercropping could be useful for weed suppression in organic row-crops such as maize and cotton.	en
heal.publisher	TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD	en
heal.journalName	INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PEST MANAGEMENT	en
dc.identifier.issue	2	en
dc.identifier.volume	56	en
dc.identifier.isi	ISI:000276640500011	en
dc.identifier.spage	173	en
dc.identifier.epage	181	en