Impact of crop sequence and nitrogen fertilization levels on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity in Egypt [electronic resource]

Includes bibliographic reference

Crop intensification of traditional wheat crop sequence by the inclusion of legumes (as intercrops or catch crops) is a suitable procedure to increase land productivity. An experiment was carried out at Kafr El-Hamam Agriculture Research Station, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. A split-plot design was used in three replicates to compare the effect of 6 crop sequences (S1: maize/wheat, S2: maize/ clover (fahl) /wheat, S3: maize/silage/wheat, S4: intercropping maize + cowpea/ clover (fahl)/ wheat, S5: intercropping maize + soybean/ clover (fahl)/wheat, S6: maize + soybean/wheat) and 3 nitrogen fertilization levels for wheat (50, 70 or 90 kg N /fad.) on soil content of available NPK, wheat productivity and farmer's net income. The results can be summarized as follows: Legumes as preceding crops increased the soil content of available NPK. The inclusion of legumes in crop sequence significantly increased grain yield as compared with cereal crops. Where, the highest grain yield (2.86 ton/fad.) with S5 treatment in the first season and (3.04 ton/fad.) by S4 treatment in the second season, respectively. Application of 70 kg N/fad significantly increased grain yield and its components of wheat. The interaction of cropping sequence S5 and S4 treatments along with 70kg N/fad level significantly had the highest yield and its components of wheat in two seasons. Replacing traditional cropping sequence maize/wheat (S1) with S4 or S5 treatments significantly increased cereal units and net income. Therefore, it can be recommended to grow fahl berseem following maize monoculture (S2) or maize intercropping with cowpea (S4) and soybean (S5) to increase available NPK in the soil, wheat grain yield, values of total cereal units and net income.

Summary in Arabic