Effects of nitrapyrin on yield of forage maize and sorghum in monoculture and intercropping under different tillage systems

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Science & Engineering, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

2 Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Science and; Engineering, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

3 Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Islamic Azad University, Shahr-e-Qods Branch, Iran

Abstract

Increasing the application of chemical fertilizers and their high leaching rates leads to decreased consumption efficiency and environmental pollution. Therefore, soil nitrification inhibitors could enhance absorption efficiency and reduce the loss of urea fertilizer. intercropping is one of the strategies to increase biodiversity and improve production efficiency per unit area, Therefore, the intercropping of maize and forage sorghum was conducted in fields with different fertilizer and soil tillage systems in 2021-2022. The treatments included two tillage systems (conventional and no-tillage), three fertilizer types (control, urea, and urea + nitrapyrin). The cropping patterns were monoculture of forage maize and sorghum, and alternatives intercropping). The results showed that the highest plant height (268.83 cm), fresh forage weight (8.67 kg. m-2), and absorbed light (1135.32 MJ.m-2) were obtained in conventional tillage and urea + nitrapyrin treatment. The highest LER (1.14) and chlorophyll content (70.18%) were achieved in conventional tillage and urea + nitrapyrin treatment. In general, the results indicated that conventional tillage compared to no-tillage systems had higher performance in traits. This superiority is attributed to better root penetration and water infiltration. Application of nitrapyrin, combined with maintaining urea in the root zone, enhanced absorption and overall performance. Intercropping demonstrates superiority over monocropping, which could significantly contribute to reducing water consumption, especially considering sorghum's drought resistance.

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Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science
Volume 56, Issue 1
March 2025
Pages 77-91

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History

  • Receive Date: 16 June 2024
  • Revise Date: 14 July 2024
  • Accept Date: 23 July 2024
  • Publish Date: 21 March 2025

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