Intercropping Barley and Beans I. Effects of Planting Pattern

SUMMARY Barley (Hordeum sativum) and field beans (Vicia faba) were grown in pure stands, alternate-row mixtures and within-row mixtures in two field experiments. In both experiments the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER), based on seed yield, was consistently greater than 1.0 only when the crops were grown in alternate rows. The LER was greatest (1.8) when the mixture included more barley than beans. Reasons for the yield advantage of alternate row planting are discussed. Barley was more competitive than beans in mixtures, but this was not significantly affected by planting pattern.