Advantage of intercropping maize [i](Zea mays[/i] L.) and common bean ([i]Phaseolus vulgaris[/i] L.) on yield and nitrogen uptake in Northeast Algeria

Abstract

Legume-cereal intercropping, is a productive and sustainable system by its nutrients facilitation, and its effect to increase N uptake for intercropped cereal; via symbiotic nitrogen (N2) fixation. The aim of this work was to test effect of maize-common bean intercropping system on the growth, nodulation, yield and N uptake. This field study was conducted in Setif region, North of Algeria. The study was carried out using intercropping system with one Cvs of common bean and one maize CV which were cultivated locally by the farmers of the region. The results showed a positive correlation between the nodule and shoot dry weight, this correlation is more significant in the intercropping than sole crop. However intercropping increase maize yield by more than 12.5%, the N concentration in shoot (20.8%) and seed (33.5%); as consequence N concentration in rhizosphere soil was significantly enhanced for intercropped common bean. Intercropping advantage was observed especially; at low concentration of nitrogen in indigenous soil. We conclude that nitrogen symbiotic fixation was contributes to facilitate N uptake for intercropped maize