Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)/Maize (Zea mays L.) Intercropping Provides a Feasible Way to Improve Yield and Economic Incomes in Farming and Pastoral Areas of Northeast China

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 9; no. 10; p. e110556
• Main Authors: Sun, Baoru, Peng, Yi, Yang, Hongyu, Li, Zhijian, Gao, Yingzhi, Wang, Chao, Yan, Yuli, Liu, Yanmei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 16.10.2014; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Agricultural economics; Agricultural practices; Agricultural production; Agriculture; Alfalfa; Animal husbandry; Biology and Life Sciences; Biomass; Breeding of animals; China; Corn; Crop yield; Crops; Ecological niches; Ecology; Economics; Ecosystem; Edible Grain - growth & development; Environment; Environmental security; Farming; Food; Grain; Grasses; Grasslands; Humans; Husbandry; Intercropping; Laboratories; Legumes; Light transmission; Medicago sativa; Medicago sativa - growth & development; Monoculture; Niches; Nitrogen; Optimization; Performance assessment; Precipitation; Quality; Resource utilization; Soil erosion; Soil fertility; Soybeans; Studies; Sustainable development; Wheat; Wind; Zea mays; Zea mays - growth & development; China

Given the growing challenges to food and eco-environmental security as well as sustainable development of animal husbandry in the farming and pastoral areas of northeast China, it is crucial to identify advantageous intercropping modes and some constraints limiting its popularization. In order to as...