Skip to main content
Log in

Biological nitrogen fixation in mixed legume-cereal cropping systems

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cereal/legume intercropping increases dry matter production and grain yield more than their monocultures. When fertilizer N is limited, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is the major source of N in legume-cereal mixed cropping systems. The soil N use patterns of component crops depend on the N source and legume species. Nitrogen transfer from legume to cereal increases the cropping system's yield and efficiency of N use. The use of nitrate-tolerant legumes, whose BNF is thought to be little affected by application of combined N, may increase the quantity of N available for the cereal component. The distance between the cereal and legume root systems is important because N is transferred through the intermingling of root systems. Consequently, the most effective planting distance varies with type of legume and cereal. Mutual shading by component crops, especially the taller cereals, reduces BNF and yield of the associated legume. Light interception by the legume can be improved by selecting a suitable plant type and architecture. Planting pattern and population at which maximum yield is achieved also vary among component species and environments. Crops can be mixed in different proportions from additive to replacement or substitution mixtures. At an ideal population ratio a semi-additive mixture may produce higher gross returns.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adu-Gyamfi J J, Fujita K and Ogata S 1989 Phosphorus absorption and utilization efficiency of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) in relation to dry matter production and dinitrogen fixation. Plant and Soil 119, 315–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Agboola A A and Fayemi A A 1971 Preliminary trials on intercropping of maize with different tropical legumes in Western Nigeria. J. Agric. Sci. 77, 219–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agboola A A and Fayemi A A 1972 Fixation and excretion of nitrogen by tropical legumes. Agron. J. 64, 409–412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Angus J S, Hasegawa S, Hsiao T C, Libbon S P and Zandstra H G 1983 The water balance of post-monsoonal dryland crops. J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.) 101, 699–710.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anon. 1960 Annual report of Entomologist for the year 1990. Department of Agriculture, Tanganyika.

  • Azimi S, Giaininazzi P V and Giaininazzi S 1980 Influence of increasing soil phosphorus levels on interactions between vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza and rhizobium in soybeans. Can. J. Bot. 58, 2200–2205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker E F I and Norman D W 1975 Cropping systems in Northern Nigeria. In Proc. of Cropping Systems Workshop, IRRI, Los Baños, Philippines. pp 334–361.

  • Barker C M and Blamey F P C 1985 Nitrogen fertilizer effects on yield and nitrogen uptake of sorghum and soybean growth in sole and intercropping systems. Field Crops Res. 12, 233–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bethlenfalvay G J and Ferrera-Cerrato R 1990 Mycorrhizae in intercrops: Significant N transfer from soybean to corn. Agron. Abstr. 1990 Annual Meeting. American Society of Agron. p. 53 San Antonio, TX.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biscoe P V and Gallagher J W 1977 In Environmental Effects of Crop Physiology. Eds. J J Landsberg and C V Cutting. pp. 75–100. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broadbent F E, Nakashima T and Chang G Y 1982 Estimation of nitrogen fixation by isotope dilution in field and greenhouse experiments. Agron. J. 74, 625–628.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brophy L S, Heichel G H and Russelle M P 1987 Nitrogen transfer from forage legumes to grass in a systematic planting design. Crop Sci. 27, 753–758.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brophy L S and Heichel G H 1989 Nitrogen release from root of alfalfa and soybean grown in sand culture. Plant and Soil 116, 77–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caradus J R 1990 The structure and function of white clover root systems. Adv. Agron. 43, 2–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caroll B J, McNeil D L and Gresshoff P M 1985 A supernodulation and nitrate-tolerant symbiotic (nts) soybean mutant. Plant Physiol. 78, 34–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Catchpoole D W and Graeme Blair J 1990 Forage tree legumes. II. Investigation of nitrogen transfer to associated grass using a split-root technique. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 41, 531–538.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang J F and Shibles R 1985 Analysis of competition between intercropped cowpea and maize. 1. Soil N and P levels and their relationships with dry matter and seed production. Field Crops Res. 12, 133–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalal R C 1977 Effects of intercropping maize with pigeon peas on grain and nutrient uptake. Exp. Agric. 10, 219–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • d'Arey Lameta A 1982 Etude des exsudats racinaires de soja et de lentille. 1. Cinetique d'exsudation des composes phenoliques, des amino acides et des sucres, au cours des premiers jours de la vie des plantules. Plant and Soil 68, 399–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Ru 1980 In Nuclear Techniques in the Development of Management Practices for Multiple Cropping Systems. pp 73–84, IAEA-TECDOC, 235. Vienna.

  • DeWit C T 1960 On competition. Verslagen Landbouwkundige Onderzoekingen No. 66 (8), 1–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Droushiotis D N 1989 Mixture of annual legumes and small-grained cereals for forage production under low rainfall. J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.) 113, 249–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eaglesham A R J, Ayanaba A, Ranga Rao V and Eskew D L 1981 Improving the nitrogen nutrition of maize by intercropping with cowpea. Soil Biol. Biochem. 13, 169–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ezuma HC, Nguyen Ky Nam and Walker P 1987 Maizecowpea intercropping as affected by nitrogen fertilization. Agron. J. 79, 275–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faris M A, Burity H A, Dos Reis O V and Mafra R C 1983 Intercropping of sorghum or maize with cowpeas or common beans under two fertility regimes in Northeastern Brazil. Exp. Agric. 19, 251–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fawusi M O A, Wanki S B C and Nangju D 1982 Plant density effects on growth, yield, leaf area index and light transmission on intercropped maize and Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp in Nigeria. J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.) 99, 19–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher N M 1977 Studies in mixed cropping. II. Population pressures in maize-bean mixtures. Exp. Agric. 13, 185–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis C A, Flor C A and Temple S R 1976 Adapting varieties for intercropped systems in the tropics. In Multiple Cropping. ASA Spec. Publ. Agron. Eds. R I Papendick, P A Sanchez and G B Triplett. pp 235–253. Madison, WJ.

  • Francis C A 1986 In Multiple Cropping Systems. MacMillan, New York, 383 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis C A 1989 Biology efficiencies. In Multiple Cropping Systems. Adv. Agron. 42, 1–42.

  • Fujita K, Ogata S, Matsumoto K, Masuda T, Ofosu-Budu K G and Kuwata K 1990a Nitrogen transfer and dry matter production in soybean and sorghum mixed cropping systems at different population densities. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 36, 233–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fujita K, Ogata S, Ofosu-Budu K G and Matsumoto K 1990b Significance of mixed cropping of legumes and grass species on dry matter production and nitrogen balance. Symposium III-4. pp 164–169. 14th Int. Congress of Soil Sci., Kyoto, Japan 12–18 August 1990.

  • Gerad B M 1976 The effect of plant density on maize and cowpea pests. Paper presented at the symposium on inter-cropping in semi-arid areas, Morogoro, Tanzania, May 1976.

  • Graham P H and Rosas J C 1978 Plant and nodule development and nitrogen fixation in climbing cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris L. grown in monoculture or associated with Zea mays L. J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.) 90, 311–317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haizel K A 1974 The significance of mixed cropping. I. Maize interplanted with cowpea. Ghana J. Agric. Sci. 7, 169–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hale M G, Moore L D and Griffin G J 1978 Root exudates and exudation. In Interactions Between Non-pathogenic Soil Micro-organisms and Plants. Eds. Y R Dommergues and S V Krupa. pp 163–203. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall R L 1978 The analysis and significance of competitive and non-competitive interference between species. In Plant Relations in Pastures. Ed. Wilson. pp 163–174. CSIRO, Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hasse V and Litsinger J A 1981 IRRI Saturday Seminar. Entomology Dept., IRRI, Los Baños, Philippines.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawes M C and Hao-Jin Lin 1990 Correlation of pectolytic enzyme activity with the programmed release of cells from root caps of pea (Pisum sativum). Plant Physiol. 94, 1855–1859.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herbert S J, Putnam D H, Poos-Floyd M I, Vargas A and Creighton J F 1984 Forage yield of intercropped corn and soybean in various planting patterns. Agron. J. 76, 507–515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulugalle N R and Lal R 1986 Soil water balance in intercropped maize and cowpea grown in a typical hydromorphic soil in Western Nigeria. Agron. J. 77, 86–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huxley P A and Mainger Z 1978 Use of systematic spacing design as an aid to the study of intercropping: Some general considerations. Exp. Agric. 14, 49–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam R, Ayanaba A and Sanders F E 1980 Response of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) to inoculation with VA-mycorrhizal fungi and to rock phosphate fertilization in some unsterilized Nigerian soils. Plant and Soil 54, 107–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jameson J E (Ed.) 1970 Agriculture in Uganda, Uganda Government, Ministry of Agriculture and Industry, Oxford University Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaushik S K and Gautam R C 1987 Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on the production potential of pearl-millet/cowpea or green gram intercropping systems under rainfed conditions. J. Agric. Sci. 108, 361–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolí E S 1975 Pure cropping and mixed cropping of maize and groundnuts in Ghana. Ghana J. Agric. Sci. 8, 23–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lakhani D A 1976 A physiological study of mixtures of sunflower and fodder radish. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. of Reading.

  • Mandal B J and Mahapatra S K 1990 Barley, lentil and flax under different intercropping systems. Agron. J. 82, 1066–1068.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mandal B J, Dhara M C, Mandal B B, Das S K and Nandy R 1990 Rice, mungbean, soybean, peanut, ricebean and black gram yields under different intercropping systems. Agron. J. 82, 1063–1066.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohta N K and De R 1980 Intercropping maize and sorghum with soybeans J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.) 95, 117–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris R A, Villegas A N, Polthanee A and centeno H S 1990 Water use by monocropped and intercropped cowpea and sorghum grown after rice. Agron. J. 82, 664–669.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nair K P P, Patel U K, Singh R P and Kaushik M K 1979 Evaluation of legume intercropping in conservation of fertilizer nitrogen in maize culture. J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.) 93, 189–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nambiar P C T, Rao M R, Reddy M S, Floyd C, Dart P J and Willey R W 1983 Effect of intercropping on nodulation and N2 fixation by groundnut. Exp. Agric. 19, 79–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • NarindarSingh, Nathu S, Ranjodh S, Tejinder S and Mukhtar S 1985 Yield and water use efficiency of rainfed wheat + chickpea mixture as affected by N and P applications in clay-loam, sandy-loam and loamy-sand soils. Indian J. Agric. Sci. 55, 13–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Natarajan M and Willey R W 1980 Sorghum-pigeon pea intercropping and the effects of plant population density. J. Agric. Sci. 95, 59–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielson G N and Mackenzie A F 1977 Soluble and sediment nitrogen losses as related to land use and type of soil in Eastern Canada. J. Environ. Qual. 6, 318–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Normal R J, Gilmour J T and Wells B R 1990 Mineralization of nitrogen from nitrogen-15 labeled crop residues and utilization by rice. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 54, 1351–1356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ntare B R 1989 West Africa's dry savanna: Intercropping cowpeas with millet. IITA Research Briefs, Dec. 1989.

  • Nye P H and Tinker P B 1977 Solute Movement in the Soil-Root System. Blackwell, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ofori F and Stern W R 1986 Maize/cowpea intercrop system: Effect of nitrogen fertilizer on productivity and efficiency. Field Crops Res. 14, 247–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ofori F, Pate J S and Stern W R 1987 Evaluation of N2 fixation and nitrogen economy of a maize/cowpea intercrop system using 15N dilution methods. Plant and Soil 102, 149–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ofori F and Stern W R 1987 Ce, eal-legume intercropping systems. Adv. Agron. 41, 41–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ofosu-Budu K G, Fujita K and Ogata S 1990 Excretion of ureide and other nitrogenous compounds by the root system of soybean at different growth stages. Plant and Soil 128, 135–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogata S, Fujita K, Matsumoto K and Saneoka H 1986 Studies on mixed cropping of grasses and legumes. 1. Dry matter production and behavior of fixed N in the system of mixed cropping of sorghum, soybean and siratro. J. Jpn. Grassl. Sci. 32, 36–43. (In Japanese with English summary.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Okigbo B N and Greenland D J 1976 Intercropping systems in tropical Africa. In Multiple Cropping. Eds. Papendick et al. pp 63–101. Spec. Publ. No. 27. Am. Soc. Agron. Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osiru D S and Willey R W 1972 Studies on mixtures of dwarf sorghum and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) with particular reference to plant population. J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.) 79, 531–540.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papastylianou I 1988 The 15N methodology in estimating N2 fixation by vetch and pea grown in pure stand or in mixtures with oats. Plant and Soil 107, 183–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papastylianou I 1990 Response of pure stands and mixtures of cereals and legumes to nitrogen fertilization and residual effect on subsequent barley. J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.) 115, 15–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patil B P and Mahendra Pal 1988 Associative effect of intercropped legumes on pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and their residual effect on nitrogen nutrition of succeeding bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) Indian J. Agric. Sci. 58, 429–432.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patra A P and Chatterjee 1986 Intercropping of soybean with rice, maize and pigeon pea in the plains of West Bengal. Indian J. Agric. Sci. 56, 413–417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patra D D, Sachdev M S and Subbiah B V 1986 15N studies on the transfer of legume-fixed nitrogen to associated cereals in intercropping systems. Biol. Fert. Soils 2, 165–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patra D D, Sachdev M S and Subbiah B V 1989 Residual value of 15N-labeled fertilizer applied to a maize-cowpea intercropping system. Biol. Fert. Soils 8, 183–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paull R E and Jones R L 1976 Studies on the secretion of maize root cap slime. V. The cell wall as a barrier to secretion. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 79, 154–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearson R and Parkinson D 1961 The sites of excretion of ninhydrin-positive substances by broad bean seedlings. Plant and Soil 57, 69–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peoples M B and Herridge D F 1990 Nitrogen fixation by legumes in tropical and subtropical agriculture. Adv. Agron. 44, 156–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perrin R M 1978 Some effects of mixed cropping on the population dynamics of insect pests. Ent. Exp. Applic. 24, 386–393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phetchawee S, Vibulsukh N, Theppoolpon M and Masarngsan W 1986 Long term effect of mulching with fertilization under cropping corn-legumes on crop yield and improvement of soil chemical-physical properties. Proc. Int. Sem. on Yield Maximization of Feed Grains Through Soil and Fertilizer Management.

  • Power J F and Doran J W 1988 Role of crop residue management in nitrogen cycling and use. In Cropping Strategies for Efficient Use of Water and Nitrogen. Ed. Hargrove et al., pp 101–113. ASA Spec. Publ. 51, ASA CSA and SSSA, Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabotnov T A 1977 In Application of Vegetation Science to Grassland Husbandry. Ed. W Kroese. pp 459–497. Dr W. Junk, The Hague, The Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rachie K O and Roberts L M 1974 Grain legumes of lowland tropics. Adv. Agron. 26, 2–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raju P S, Chalk R B, Ellis J R and Maranville J W 1989 Effects of species of VA-mycorrhizal fungi on growth and mineral uptake of sorghum at different temperatures. Plant and Soil 121, 165–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao L J and Mittra B N 1989 It pays to intercrop groundnut and arhar during winter in West Bengal. Indian Farming Sept. 1989. p 25.

  • Rego T J 1981 Nitrogen response studies of intercropped sorghum with pigeon pea. Proc. Workshop Intercrop. (ICRISAT), 10–13 January 1979. Hyderabad, pp 210–216.

  • Remison S U 1978 Neighbor effects between maize and cowpea at various levels of N and P. Exp. Agric. 14, 205–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rennie R J, Dubetz S, Bole J B and Muendel H-H 1982 Dinitrogen fixation measured by 15N isotope dilution in two Canadian soybean cultivars. Agron. J. 74, 725–730.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rerkasem K and Rerkasem B 1988 Yields and nitrogen nutrition of intercropped maize and ricebean (Vigna umbellata [Thumb] Ohwi and Ohashi). Plant and Soil 108, 151–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rerkasem B, Rerkasem K, Peoples M B, Herridge D F and Bergersen F J 1988 Measurement of N2 fixation in maize (Zea mays L.)—ricebean (Vigna umbellata [Thumb] Ohwi and Ohashi) intercrops. Plant and Soil 108, 125–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes I and Stern W R 1978 Compotition for light. In Plant Relations in Pastures. Ed. J R Wilson. pp 175–189. CSIRO, Melbourne, Vic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritcher M, Wilms W and Scheffer F 1968 Determination of root exudates in a sterile continuous flow culture. II. Short-term and long-term variations of exudation intensity. Plant Physiol. 43, 1747–1754.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roughier M 1981 Secretory activity of the root cap. In Encyclopedia of Plant Physiologist. New Series. Plant Carbohydrates II. Vol. 13B. Eds. W Tanner and F Loewus. pp 542–574. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez P A, Salinas J G 1981 Low-input technology for managing oxisols and ultisols in tropical America. Adv. Agron. 34, 280–398.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott T W, MtPleasant J, Burt R F and Otis D J 1987 Contributions of groundcover, dry matter and nitrogen from intercrops and cover crops in a corn polyculture system. Agron. J. 79, 792–798.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scroft M N and Snyder W C 1962 Exudation patterns from bean seeds and hypocotyls and their effects on Fusarium solani f phaseoli. Phytopathology 52, 751.

    Google Scholar 

  • Searle P G E, Comudom Y, Sheddon D C and Nance R A 1981 Effect of maize + legume intercropping systems and fertilizer nitrogen on crop yields and residual nitrogen. Field Crops Res. 4, 133–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shackel K A and Hall A E 1984 Effect of intercropping on the water relations of sorghum and cowpea. Field Crops Res. 8, 381–387.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh S P 1983 Summer legume intercrop effects on yield and nitrogen economy of wheat in the succeeding season. J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.) 101, 401–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh N B, Singh P P and Nair K P P 1986 Effect of legume intercropping on enrichment of soil nitrogen, bacterial activity and productivity of associated maize crops. Expl. Agric. 22, 339–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snaydon R W and Harris R M 1979 Nutrient and rooting pattern interaction below ground—the use of nutrients and water. In Proc. Int. Workshop on Intercropping. pp 188–201. Hyderabad, India Jan. 1979.

  • Ta T C, MacDowall F D H and Faris M A 1986 Excretion of nitrogen assimilated from N2 by nodulated roots of alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Can. J. Bot. 64, 2063–2067.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ta T C and Faris M A 1987 Species variations in the fixation and transfer of nitrogen from legumes to associated grasses. Plant and Soil 98, 265–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ta T C, Faris M A and MacDowall F D H 1989 Evaluation of 15N methods to measure nitrogen transfer from alfalfa to companion timothy. Plant and Soil 114, 243–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka A 1986 Potential yield of upland cropping systems and approaches to its expression. Proc. of Inter. Conf. on the Management and Fertilization of Upland Soils in the Tropics and Sub-Tropics. Nanjing, China. p 11–21.

  • Tanaka A and Fujita K 1979 Growth, photosynthesis and yield components in relation to grain yield of the field bean. J. Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido Univ. 59, 145–238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tinker P B 1982 Mycorrhizas. In Trans. 12th Inter. Congr. Soil Sci. pp 155–162. New Delhi, India.

  • Trang K M and Giddens J 1980 Shading and temperature as environmental factors affecting growth, nodulation and symbiotic N2 fixation by soybeans. Agron. J. 72, 305–308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trenbath B P 1976 Plant interaction in mixed communities. In Multiple Cropping. Proc. of a Symposium. Eds. Papendick et al. pp 76–102 SAS, CSSA and SSSA. Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsay J 1985 Physiological studies of cassava-soybean intercropping. Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Queensland, Australia.

  • Vancura V and Stanek M 1975 Root exudates of plants. V. Kinetics of exudates from bean roots as related to the presence of reserve compounds in cotyledons. Plant and Soil 43, 547–559.

    Google Scholar 

  • VanKessel C, Singleton P W and Hoben H J 1985 Enhanced N-transfer from a soybean to maize by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Plant Physiol. 79, 562–563.

    Google Scholar 

  • VanKessel C and Roskoski J P 1988 Row spacing effects on N2 fixation, N-yield and soil N uptake of intercropped cowpea and maize. Plant and Soil 111, 17–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Virtanen A I, VonHausen S and Laine T 1937 Investigation on the root nodule bacteria of leguminous plants. XX. Excretion of nitrogen in associated cultures of legumes and non-legumes. J. Agric. Sci. 27, 610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wacquant J P, Ouknider M and Jacquard P 1989 Evidence of periodic excretion by roots of grass-legume associations. Plant and Soil 116, 57–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waghmare A B, Krishnan T K and Singh S P 1982 Crop compatibility and spatial arrangement in sorghum-based intercropping systems. J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.) 99, 621–629.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahua T A T and Miller D A 1978a Effects of intercropping on soybean N2 fixation and plant composition on associated sorghum and soybeans. Agron. J. 70, 292–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahua T A T and Miller D A 1978 Effects of shading on the N2 fixation, yield and plant composition of field-grown soybeans. Agron. J. 70, 387–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitney A S and Kaneshiro Y 1967 Pathway of nitrogen transfer in some tropical legume-grass associations. Agron. J. 59, 585–588.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willey R W 1979a Intercropping—its importance and research needs. Part 1: Competition and yield advantages. Field Crops Abstr. 32, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willey R W 1979b Intercropping—its importance and research needs. Part 2: Agronomy and research approaches. Field Crops Abstr. 32, 73–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willey R W and Osiru D S O 1972 Studies on mixtures of maize and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) with particular reference to plant population. J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.) 79, 517–529.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yunusa I A M 1989 Effects of planting density and plant arrangement pattern on growth and yields of maize (Zea may L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) grown in mixtures. J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.) 112, 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fujita, K., Ofosu-Budu, K.G. & Ogata, S. Biological nitrogen fixation in mixed legume-cereal cropping systems. Plant Soil 141, 155–175 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011315

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011315

Key words

Navigation