Evaluation of the Development Process of Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Winter Pea (Pisum sativum L.) in Intercropping by Yield Components

Abstract

The future of wheat production depends on our ability to adapt to changing growing conditions. It is expected that intercropping will be more emphasized where natural source of nitrogen may increase the resilience of cereals. Our investigation was made in two growing seasons (2020–2021, 2021–2022) with three winter wheat varieties (GK Szilárd, Cellule, GK Csillag) and a winter pea variety (Aviron) in Szeged-Öthalom. Each plot was 10 square meters in four repeats in randomized block design. We used a seed mixture of both species with three sowing densities. In this study, we represent a development process of two winter-sown species, then yield components evaluated by cumulative yield production analysis and multivariate regression. Mixtures were only beneficial for wheat in the case of GK Szilárd 50% and Aviron 75%, Cellule 75% and Aviron 100% (in 2021), Cellule 100% and Aviron 50% (in 2022), GK Csillag 75% and Aviron 50%. The yield was determined by the number and weight of grains in both species (and also number of pea pods). Knowledge of the development process of the companion plants is a key issue in creating an effective intercrop. This self-sustaining, low input and energy efficient cropping practice has a great potential in temperate areas.