Mutual intercropping of spring annual legumes for grain production in the Balkans

Abstract

A two-year (2008-2009) field trial was carried out in to assess whether intercropping of spring annual legumes may increase grain yield. It included two legumes with high standing ability, faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and white lupin (Lupinus albus L.), and three legumes with poor standing ability, field pea (Pisum sativum L.), common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.). Both supporting crops were combined with three supported crops at three different proportions, namely 75% + 25%, 50% + 50% and 25% + 75%, in respect to the specific sowing rate of each pure stand that were included as controls. The reliability of each intercrop was determined by calculating land equivalent ratio. The intercrop of 25% white lupin + 75% grass pea had the highest average total grain yield (5 350 kg/ha). The highest average LER (1.31) was in 25% white lupin + 75% grass pea.