Qualitative effects of pea and spring cereals intercrop in the organic farming systems

Abstract

The experiment aimed to ascertain the influence of pea and spring cereal intercrops on the yield and quality of spring crops was carried out in 2007 and 2008 at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture in different experimental sites, soil and cultivation conditions. Pea (Pisum sativum L.) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), oat (Avena sativa L.), triticale (x Triticosecale Wittm.) were sown as intercrops 50:50 or as sole crop. The results obtained during the two experimental years showed that the productivity and quality of spring cereal sole crops or intercrops depended on the species of cereals and varied between different experimental sites. The cultivation conditions were different in 2007 and 2008, therefore the results varied in the same experimental sites in the first and second experimental years. The experimental evidence is still inconclusive to firmly suggest which of the intercrops could be more stable, however it indicates the benefits of legumes for spring crops grown together.