Productivity and competition in associated corn (Zea mays L.) and bean (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) cropping systems with and without inoculation in Paraguay
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18004/rdgic.investig.estud.una.2025.junio.2916014312Keywords:
Family farming, land equivalent ratio, competitive ratio, sustainable agricultureAbstract
Corn and bean are fundamental crops for Paraguayan family-based peasant agriculture, yet their production is limited by low soil fertility and the need to optimize light, water, and nutrients. To evaluate the productivity and competitive interaction of both species, an experiment was conducted in the Sexta Línea-San Francisco locality (Caaguazú) using a randomized complete block design with five treatments: (T1) corn monoculture, (T2) bean monoculture without inoculant, (T3) corn-bean association without inoculant, (T4) bean monoculture with inoculant, and (T5) corn-bean association with inoculant. The BR 106 hybrid and the San Francisco bean variety were used, along with a Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant (1×1010 CFU/ml, 200 ml per 100 kg of seed). Individual and total crop yields were measured, and the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) and Competitive Ratio (CR) were calculated. Yield data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Tukey’s test (5%), while LER and CR were evaluated via Student’s t-test. The corn monoculture (T1) was the most productive, with 6281 kg/ha, followed by T5 with 5195 kg/ha (p<0.0001). Bean yield was significantly higher (p=0.0002) in monoculture with inoculant (2334 kg/ha) compared to the non-inoculated monoculture (1803 kg/ha. Inoculation in the associated cropping system improved resource-use efficiency, reflected in higher yields (6832 kg/ha) and LER values, indicating that the corn-bean system with inoculation optimizes family-based agricultural productivity in Paraguay.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Andrés José Armadans Rojas; Guillermo Andrés Enciso Maldonado, Aldo Andrés Ortíz Alfonso, Miguel Angel Torres Moreno, Monserrat Pedrozo (Autor/a)
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