RESEARCH ON INTERCROPPING EFFECT ON CROP PRODUCTIVITY AND YIELD QUALITY OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.)/SOYBEAN (Glycine max (L.) MERRIL), IN THE ORGANIC AGRICULTURE SYSTEM

The research is focused on the productivity and yield quality of maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L. Merril) intercropping, in order to evaluate their adaptability to the natural conditions of South Romanian Plain and to organic cultivation. The experiment was carried out between 2007 and 2009, at Moara Domneasca Experimental Field, on a reddish preluvosoil. The seeds used for experiments were organic. Maize and soybean were sown in alternating rows (1 row of maize, 2 rows of soybean), 40 cm between the rows of soybean and 15 cm from the maize rows. In intercropping system, maize had a density of 5 plants/m 2 and soybean of 24 plants/m 2 . Several parameters were determined: productivity elements, yields, land equivalent ratio and seeds quality. In average, in pure stand, maize produced a yield of 3551 kg/ha. Maize intercropped with soybean produced 3087 kg/ha. Soybean had a yield of 2431 kg/ha in pure stand and of 1274 kg/ha in intercropping, with 1157 kg/ha smaller than the control. In terms of chemical composition, maize intercropped with soybean contained 9.76 % protein, 4.88 % fats and 67.92% starch. Soybean seeds from intercropping had 36.76 % protein, 17.97% fats and 2.80% starch.