Impact of Intercropping Zea mays and Glycine max on Weed Suppression Dynamics and Land Equivalent Ratios

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences | Vol. 12, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 127–131

DOI: 10.46882/2026.AAAS.120806

Research Article

Title: Impact of Intercropping Zea mays and Glycine max on Weed Suppression Dynamics and Land Equivalent Ratios

Names of Authors: Müller, J. K.¹, Wagner, S. M.¹, and Becker, F. H.²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Institute of Agronomy, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany. ²Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Julius Kühn-Institut, Quedlinburg, Germany.

Abstract: Monoculture cultivation configurations require substantial synthetic herbicide interventions to suppress competitive weed species. This study evaluated the agronomic efficiency of alternate-row intercropping setups pairing maize (Zea mays L.) alongside soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) without applying chemical weed protection. Weed biomass, solar radiation interception metrics, and crop yields were tracked across three spatial configurations (1:1, 2:2, and alternate broadcast designs). The 2:2 row intercropping design out-performed alternative options, reducing absolute weed biomass by 58.4% compared to maize monoculture plots. Canopy closure assessments showed that the multi-tier leaf setup intercepted 88.5% of incoming photosynthetically active radiation by day 45, starving low-level weed species of light inputs. Total Land Equivalent Ratios (LER) reached a maximum score of 1.34 within the 2:2 configuration, showing high land-use efficiency. Nitrogen analysis confirmed that soybean rhizospheric fixation enhanced soil nitrogen availability within shared root horizons by 24.5 kg N/ha, boosting maize grain protein profiles.

Keywords: Ecological intensive farming; Light interception; Intercropping; Biological weed control; Land use efficiency; Root interaction.

Manuscript Timeline: Received April 28, 2026; Revised June 25, 2026; Accepted July 30, 2026; Published August 22, 2026.

Citation: Müller, J. K., Wagner, S. M., and Becker, F. H. (2026). Impact of Intercropping Zea mays and Glycine max on Weed Suppression Dynamics and Land Equivalent Ratios. Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, 12(8), pp. 127–131.

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