Effects of Intercropping Sunflower with Sugar Beet under Different Plant Densities and Defoliation Levels on Yield and Production Efficiency of Both Crops

doi:10.21608/assjm.2013.141846

Effects of Intercropping Sunflower with Sugar Beet under Different Plant Densities and Defoliation Levels on Yield and Production Efficiency of Both Crops

Document Type : Original Article

10.21608/assjm.2013.141846

Abstract

Two field trials were carried out in Agriculture Research Station, Giza, Egypt during 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 seasons to study the effect of intercropping sugar beet with different plant densities of sunflower (100%, 80% and 67% sunflower plants from pure stand) and four defoliation levels of sunflower plants (75, 50, 25% and 0% at milk ripe stage) on growth, yield and yield components of sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.).
Sugar beet (c.v. Kawemire), as the main crop, was seeded in hills spaced 20 cm on two sides of wide ridges 120 cm apart, both in intercropping and monoculture patterns to achieve full stand of 35000-plants/ fed. Sunflower (c.v. Giza 102) as a sole crop was seeded in hills spaced 20 cm apart and one plant per hill on both sides of the ridges 120cm to achieve full stand 35,000 plants/fed. Intercropped sunflower was sown at one plant per hill spaced 20, 25 and 30cm on two rows in the top of ridges 120cm width. The experiments included 12 treatments, in addition to monocultures of sunflower and sugar beet as checks. The experiments were designed a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications.

Keywords