Evaluation of corn cultivars associated with beans

Abstract

Experiments were conducted at the Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Milho e Sorgo (CNPMS) to evaluate 15 corn cultivars (Zea mays L.) in monoculture and in intercropping with bean Phaseolus vulgaris L. in 1978/79 and 1979/80. Five tipical tall tropical corn cultivars, five short corn cultivars and five early maturity corn cultivars were used. A randomized block design with three replications was used. In the intercropping system, one row of bean was planted between two rows of corn. The results of two years showed no effect of cropping system (monoculture or intercropping) on the corn production. The bean production was reduced 70 percent in intercropping system when compared with the monoculture system. The normal maturity short corn cultivars had lower yields an the poorest performance in the intercropping system. Although there was no significant effect of corn cultivars on the bean production, the intercropping system with early maturity corn cultivars resulted in higher bean production in 1979/80 when compared with the bean production in intercropping system with normal, maturity (tall or short) corn cultivar.