The Effect of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Intercropping on Weeds and Their Methods of Control

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Sara Sadat Moazeni

Ebrahim Izadi Darbandi

Kamal Hajmohammadnia Ghalibaf

Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

10.22067/jpp.2023.80163.1133

Abstract

Introduction
Intercropping is a key component of sustainable agriculture that, when properly implemented with suitable crop combinations, can enhance yield, improve economic efficiency, conserve natural resources, and increase resource use efficiency. In addition, intercropping systems play an important role in the ecological management of pests, diseases, and weeds. Previous studies have shown that intercropping can effectively suppress weed growth through improved resource utilization and increased crop competitiveness (Gu et al., 2021; Weerarathne et al., 2017).
In particular, intercropping systems involving legumes and oilseed crops have demonstrated significant advantages, including enhanced system productivity, reduced dependence on nitrogen fertilizers due to biological nitrogen fixation, improved nutrient and water use efficiency, and disruption of pest and disease cycles (Stomph et al., 2020; Maitra et al., 2019). Despite these benefits, the effectiveness of intercropping systems depends on appropriate crop combinations and weed management strategies. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of bean–sesame intercropping and different weed control methods on weed density and biomass, as well as land equivalent ratio (LER), under Shirvan conditions.
 
Materials and Methods
This experiment was conducted during the 2019–2020 growing season at the research farm of Hossein Abad village, Shirvan, Iran, as a factorial arrangement (6 × 3) based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Treatments included six cropping ratios of sesame to bean (100:0, 100:25, 100:50, 100:75, 100:100, and 0:100) at an optimal plant density of 40 plants m⁻², and three weed management methods: trifluralin application (960 g a.i. ha⁻¹) incorporated into the soil two weeks before planting, and hand weeding at 35 and 55 days after planting (DAP). Weed sampling was carried out at 35, 55, 60, 70, 80, and 90 DAP using a 0.5 m² quadrat. Weed species were identified and counted, and their dry biomass was determined. At the end of the growing season, crop biomass, seed yield, and land equivalent ratio (LER) were measured.
 
Results and Discussin
Weed biomass and density were significantly affected by weed management practices, cropping ratios, and sampling time. The highest weed biomass (5.94 g m⁻²) was observed under hand weeding at 35 days after planting (DAP) in the 25:100 bean–sesame intercropping ratio, while the highest weed density (6.67 plants m⁻²) occurred in sole bean cropping with hand weeding at 55 DAP. In contrast, the lowest weed biomass (1.08 g m⁻²) was obtained with trifluralin application in sole bean cropping, confirming the effectiveness of herbicide-based weed control reported in previous studies (Hedayatipour et al., 2013; Daneshvari et al., 2021). Similarly, the lowest weed density (1 plant m⁻²) was recorded under hand weeding at 55 DAP in the 75:100 ratio and under trifluralin application in the 100:100 ratio. Weed biomass and density increased significantly with delayed sampling time (60 to 90 DAP), indicating progressive weed establishment and intensified competition, which is consistent with findings of Ahmadi et al. (2005). Moreover, reduced weed biomass in higher sesame proportions suggests improved competitive ability of intercropping systems, supporting previous reports that mixed cropping enhances weed suppression through more efficient resource utilization (Gu et al., 2021; Weerarathne et al., 2017).
The highest bean seed yield (280.71 g m⁻²) and biological yield (765.17 g m⁻²) were obtained in the 50:100 intercropping ratio, indicating an optimal balance between interspecific competition and complementarity. In contrast, the lowest sesame yield (12.08 g m⁻²) was observed under hand weeding at 55 DAP in the same ratio, likely due to its lower competitive ability, as also noted in similar mixed cropping systems (Hosseinzadeh et al., 2021).The land equivalent ratio (LER) further confirmed the superiority of intercropping systems, with the highest value (1.80) recorded in the 75:100 ratio under hand weeding at 55 DAP, indicating more efficient use of environmental resources compared to monocropping systems, in agreement with previous studies (Maitra et al., 2019; Stomph et al., 2020).
 
Conclusion
 Based on the findings of this study, intercropping of sesame and bean, particularly at the 75:100 ratio combined with hand weeding at 55 days after planting (DAP), proved to be an effective strategy for weed management under Shirvan conditions. This treatment not only reduced weed density and biomass but also improved land use efficiency, as reflected by higher LER values. The results highlight the potential of integrating optimized intercropping patterns with appropriate weed control timing as a sustainable approach to enhance crop performance while reducing reliance on chemical inputs. Therefore, this system can be recommended as an efficient and environmentally friendly practice for managing weeds in sesame–bean intercropping systems in similar agroecological conditions.



 
 



 
 

Keywords

Mixcropping ratio

Trifluralin

Weed

Weeding date

Subjects

• Weed

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Authors retain the copyright. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)

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