Performance of beans of Vigna and Phaseolus genera in associated cropping with maize planted simultaneously

Abstract

The following species (and cultivars) were used in this study: comirion bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, cvs. Fortuna and Milionário), lima bean (P. lunatus, cv. GL 355), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata, cvs. EPACE-6 and CNC 0434), rice bean (V. umbellata, cvs. E-7 and E-18), adzuki bean (V angularis, cvs. Kintoki and Dainagon), and mungbean (V. radiata, cvs. GL 388 and KY 2013). Thus, a total of 11 treatinerits with legumes associated with maize were tested, plus maize (cv. AG 301) in monocrop. Next: to this experiment, another was carried out with all legumes in monocropping. Maize was planted in rows 1.0 in apart, and final stand reached the average of 3.2 plants per meter. Legumes were planted simultancousiy with maize and within the maize rows. Conimon bean varieties stood out as the most adaptable to the associated cropping. However, yields above 1,000 kg/ha were also obtained with lima bean, rice bean, and cowpea varieties. The last: two species utilized the maize plants as support, reaching the height of 1.75 to 2.05 in. Contrasting with the behavior in monocropping, rice bean did not present a uniform maturation, requiring two harvests of dry pods. When associated with legumes, the average maize yield was 13.5% lower than in monocropping, a tendency aggravated by climbing legumes, which caused a higher yield loss and a higher number of broken maize plants.