What determines a productive winter bean-wheat genotype combination for intercropping in central Germany?

Nelson, W C D and Siebrecht-Schöll, D J and Hoffmann, M P and Rötter, R P and Whitbread, A M and Link, W (2021) What determines a productive winter bean-wheat genotype combination for intercropping in central Germany? European Journal of Agronomy (TSI), 128. pp. 1-9. ISSN 1161-0301

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Abstract

genotypes. Our study evaluates the performance of three winter wheat cultivars and eight winter faba bean genotypes (experimental inbred lines) sown as replacement row intercrops with sole cropping comparisons. Detailed agronomic, physiological and soil-based measurements were taken over three consecutive autumn-sown seasons at two sites (a marginal versus a fertile soil) in central Germany. This study aimed to contribute to our understanding of key traits required to achieve highly complementary and well-performing intercrops. Faba bean plus wheat intercrops yielded higher than sole crop equivalents at both sites, but more so at the marginal site (34 % > 12 %). High intercrop yields were associated with high wheat component yields. Such stands included faba bean genotypes that exhibited low leaf area index (LAI) values and low plant height. Tall and large faba beans i.e. with high vegetative biomass led to excessive lodging, both as a sole crop and when intercropped. To some extent, this concealed effects of faba bean genotype trait variation that would have otherwise been visible had lodging not occurred. The expression of these traits was heavily influenced by variation in environmental conditions. At the less fertile site, even tall intercropped faba beans showed relatively lower vegetative biomass, which promoted intercropped wheat and led to superior overyielding values and relative yield total. While site-specific differences are key, German winter faba beans need further genetic improvement to refrain from superfluous biomass growth when water resources are plentiful.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Global Research Program - Resilient Farm and Food Systems
CRP:	CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Vicia faba, Triticum aestivum, Intercropping, Overyielding, Trait expression
Subjects:	Others > Genetics and Genomics Others > Wheat
Depositing User:	Mr Arun S
Date Deposited:	01 Oct 2021 06:48
Last Modified:	01 Oct 2021 06:48
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/11901
Official URL:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2021.126294
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	This study was conducted within the IMPAC3 project (grant number 031A351A), coordinated by the Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use of the University of G¨ottingen, Germany. The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). We thank our project partners the Deutsche Saatveredelung (DSV) and the Norddeutsche Pflanzenzucht (NPZ) for the provision of genetic material. We are immensely grateful for the work of Regina Martsch for managing all aspects of the field experiment. W.C.D.N. received support from the BMBF via the ‘SALLnet’ project (grant number 01LL1802A) within the SPACES2 Program. R.P.R. is grateful for financial support from FACCE-JPI (Suscrop - ERA - Net) of the European Union via the BARISTA project (grant number 031B0811A). A.M.W. acknowledges support from the CGIAR Research Programs on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) carried out with support from the CGIAR Trust Fund and through bilateral funding agreements.
Links:	Google Scholar

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