TY - JOUR

T1 - Grain yield stability of cereal-legume intercrops is greater than sole crops in more productive conditions

AU - Weih, Martin

AU - Karley, Alison J.

AU - Newton, Adrian C.

AU - Kiær, Lars P.

AU - Scherber, Christoph

AU - Rubiales, Diego

AU - Adam, Eveline

AU - Ajal, James

AU - Brandmeier, Jana

AU - Pappagallo, Silvia

AU - Villegas-Fernández, Angel

AU - Reckling, Moritz

AU - Tavoletti, Stefano

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - The intercropping of two or more crop species on the same piece of land at a given time has been hypothesized to enhance crop yield stability. To address this hypothesis, we assessed the grain yield stability of various barley-pea and wheat-faba bean mixtures grown in seven experimental field trials (locations) across Europe during two years with contrasting weather (2017 and 2018). Three different yield stability measures were used, all based on the expected yield variability of the mixture components grown as sole crops, and the corresponding observed yield variability of the same components grown in 50:50 mixtures in a replacement design. Stability indices were calculated as ratios between the expected and observed variabilities, with values > 1 indicating greater stability of the intercrops. Mean grain yields tended to be higher in intercrops than sole crops. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, the observed (intercrop) yield stability was similar or lower than the expected (sole crop) stability in most locations except one. Furthermore, yield stability significantly increased with increasing mean yields when assessed across differentially productive locations. The results are relevant for the designing of intercropping systems as a means to increase yield stability and the resilience of cropping systems.

AB - The intercropping of two or more crop species on the same piece of land at a given time has been hypothesized to enhance crop yield stability. To address this hypothesis, we assessed the grain yield stability of various barley-pea and wheat-faba bean mixtures grown in seven experimental field trials (locations) across Europe during two years with contrasting weather (2017 and 2018). Three different yield stability measures were used, all based on the expected yield variability of the mixture components grown as sole crops, and the corresponding observed yield variability of the same components grown in 50:50 mixtures in a replacement design. Stability indices were calculated as ratios between the expected and observed variabilities, with values > 1 indicating greater stability of the intercrops. Mean grain yields tended to be higher in intercrops than sole crops. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, the observed (intercrop) yield stability was similar or lower than the expected (sole crop) stability in most locations except one. Furthermore, yield stability significantly increased with increasing mean yields when assessed across differentially productive locations. The results are relevant for the designing of intercropping systems as a means to increase yield stability and the resilience of cropping systems.

KW - Barley (Hordeum vulgare)

KW - Crop diversification

KW - Faba bean (Vicia faba)

KW - Intercropping

KW - Pea (Pisum sativum)

KW - Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

KW - Yield stability

U2 - 10.3390/agriculture11030255

DO - 10.3390/agriculture11030255

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85103507601

VL - 11

JO - Agriculture

JF - Agriculture

SN - 2077-0472

IS - 3

M1 - 255

ER -