Abstract:
This experiment was carried out at the Faculty of Agriculture
Research Station – University of Mu´tah – during summer growing season of
2002, to evaluate the effect of the following micro environmental factors:
light interception, air and soil heat unit, soil moisture storage (SMS),
evapotranspiraton (ET) and water use efficiency (WUE) on the yields of two
potato varieties (Berca and Frisia) - Solanum tuberosum – and bean ( local
variety) – Phaseolus vulgaris – as they are grown under 1:2 and 2:2
intercropping row arrangement and sole cropping. In addition, land
equivalent ratio (LER) was determined to assess the efficiency of
intercropping system. The yields of the two potato varieties and bean were
higher under intercropping than sole cropping, especially when they are
grown under 2:2 row arrangement, where potato "Berca" and,"Frisia" gave
an increase in yield of 63.9%, and 70.7% respectively, while bean gave an
increase in yield of 70.9%, and 57%, as it was grown with potato "Berca"
and,"Frisia" respectively, over the yields of their sole crops. The higher
intercropped yields of the two potato varieties "Berca" and "Frisia" were
associated with significant reductions in the values of light interception air
and soil heat unit compared to the values obtained by the two potato varieties
"Berca" and "Frisia" grown under sole cropping. On the contrary, the higher
intercropped bean yield production was associated with significant higher
values of light interception, air and soil heat unit as compared to the values
obtained by bean sole crop. Additionally, the values of SMS and ET for
potato and bean grown under intercropping tended to be lower than the
values obtained by their sole crop. Moreover, WUE values of potato and
bean grown in association were significantly higher than the values of WUE
obtained by their sole crop. Further more, the values of total (LER) for
potato and bean grown under intercropping were higher than one, which
indicates the superiority of intercropping system over the sole cropping
system. However, the highest total LER was obtained when both crops were
grown under 2:2 intercropping row arrangement, where they gave an
increase in the range of 64% to 67% as compared to sole cropping system.
