COMPETITIVE INTERACTION BETWEEN MIXED-PLANTING MAIZE CULTIVARS ENHANCED YIELD AND WATER-USE EFFICIENCY IN A SEMI-ARID REGION

Abstract

Effects of competitive interaction between two mixed planting maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars on yield and

water use efficiency are inevitable and the positive process needs more excavation. Two maize cultivars were

mixed planting in two densities to explicit the potential of competitive interaction improving yield and water

use efficiency in a semi-arid region over two growing seasons. During grain filling stage firstly, competitive

interaction optimized stem to leaf ratio of two maize cultivars, and decreased root to shoot ratio at harvest

under the same-high mixed planting density, great competitive intensity caused by high planting density

suppressed vegetative growth of maize. Secondly, land equivalent ratio positively increased from 1.02 to 1.14,

which signified the advantage of farming land use. Furthermore, positive values of total actual yield loss in the

four mixed systems indicated a yield advantage. Over two years, mean yield and water use efficiency increased

by 6.5 % and 11.7 % which resulted from the positive performance of two maize cultivars in the mixed

systems. Thus, consequences of competitive interaction in the mixed planting systems performed as land use,

maize yield and water use efficiency advantages in the dry land farming.

Keywords

• Maize cultivars mixture,competitive parameter,yield and water use efficiency advantage

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