The effects of strip cropping and weed control methods on yields of dent maize, narrow-leafed lupin and oats

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of strip cropping and different weed control methods on the yield and yield structure of dent maize, narrow-leafed lupin and spring oat. A split-plot design with four replications was conducted in 2008-2010. The following factors were analysed in the experiment: I. Cultivation method – sole cropping and strip cropping; II. Weed control method – mechanical and chemical. The method of cultivation was considered the main plot and the weed control methods were the sub-plot. Strip cropping significantly increased the maize yield and the percentage share of ears in the total biomass. The seed yield of narrow-leafed lupin was significantly higher in strip cropping, but only where mechanical weed control was used. Strip cropping significantly increased the plant density, seed number and weight per plant and 1,000 seed weight of lupin. Oat yield was slightly higher in the strip cropping than in the sole cropping. Strip cropping increased grain number and weight per panicle in the oat. The chemical weed control method was more favourable to the yield of maize, narrow-leaf lupin and oat than the mechanical weed control. The land equivalent ratio value (1.06) confirms that the maize/narrow-leafed lupin/oat strip cropping was more efficient than the sole cropping. Keywords: Strip cropping; Dent maize; Oat; Narrow-leafed lupin; Weed control.