Effect of intercropping mungbean on maize and sunflower under weed-free and weedy conditions

Intercropping is a common yet often discouraged agricultural practice in underdeveloped countries. This method is particularly beneficial for cereal crops. To combat this issue, incorporating leguminous crops with cereals is an effective technique for enhancing soil organic matter and macronutrient levels. The research trial was conducted in the Department of Agronomy at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, in 2018. The crop varieties used in the experiment included maize (P-1439), sunflower (NKSINGI), and mung beans (HAZARI-2006). The results of the study established that intercropping significantly increased the cob diameter, the number of cobs per plant, biological yield, and grain yield for both crops. Data were collected on various observations from 35 days after sowing (DAS) until harvest. The allometric traits measured included leaf area index (LAI), leaf area duration (days), crop growth rate (g m-2 day-1), and chlorophyll content. Additionally, data on root traits, agronomic parameters, yield parameters, and weed-related traits were also collected. In conclusion, yields in weed-free conditions were significantly higher than in weedy environments. Furthermore, maize and sunflower grown alongside mung beans in weed-free regions produced maximum yields compared to weedy checks. The results indicate that intercropping maize and sunflowers with mung beans is more advantageous than planting these crops as sole varieties. Maize, whether grown alone or intercropped with mungbean under weed-free conditions, produced higher grain yields of 6.75 g/plot and 5.8 g/plot compared to weed-infested conditions. Notably, the lower yield of mung beans provided a higher economic value compared to the higher yields of maize and sunflower.