Author : Prapto Yudono

Summary : A study was conducted from November 1988 to July 1989 at the Central Experiment Station, University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB) to: (a) determine the influence of row intercropping with different portions of corn and soybean on growth and production performance of corn and soybean in terms of physical, physiological quality and protein content when grown in intercropping and monoculture, and (c) determine the ebst proportional combination of corn and soybean as an alternative method of seed production. Growth performance but not seed quality of soybean was affected by intercrops. Lower population density in inetrcrops produced taller soybean plants with longer time of maturity. With higher population density in intercrops, yield of soybean on a per plant and per hectare basis was higher due to the higher number of nodes and pods per plant. Big seeds tended to have higher crude protein content than small seeds. Plant height, days to tasseling, silking and maturity of corn were significantly affected by population density in intercrops. Lower population density of corn in intercropping, produced plants of shorter statures but which took longer to tassel, silk and mature; ear, nut lower seed yield per hectare basis; and a tendency for higher proportion of big seeds. Big seeds of corn tended to have higher crude protein content, than small seeds. No other physical and physiological qualities were affected by intercropping. Higher population of soybean plant in intercrops resulted to higher land equivalent ratio (LER). Intercrops with one row of corn and four rows of soybean and two rows of corn and three rows of soybean gave better LER than monocrop ( >1.00). Considering the seed quality and LER, the best intercropping proportions may be one row of corn and four rows of soybean and two rows of corn and three rows of soybean. These can also used as alternate method for seed production of corn and soybean, particularly for planting purposes.