Performance of Mixed Cropping of Barley and Hairy Vetch as Green Manure Crops for Following Corn Production

BACKGROUND: Mixed cropping of legume and grass was effective system in view point of providing organic matter and nitrogen or reducing the nitrogen starvation of following crop.The relation of the change of N and P constituents depending on the cropping types and those effects on the growth and nutrient uptake of the following crop were observed.METHODS AND RESULTS: Three cropping types, hairy vetch mono cropping, barley mono cropping, and mixed cropping of hairy vetch and barley were applied.Soil properties, growth characteristics, and nitrogen production of green manure crops were observed.In additions, the effect of cropping types on the growth pattern of corn as the following crop was observed.In the mixed cropping system, creeping type hairy vetch climbed to the erect type barely for light utilization resulting in improvement of light interception rate and higher LAI (Leaf Area Index) than in mono cropping.Mixed cropping showed higher biomass production and soil nitrogen availability among the cropping types, indicating relatively much more nutrient supply and higher yield production of following crop.CONCLUSION: Mixed cropping showed relatively higher LAI (dry matter) mainly because of intense competition for light utilization usually after flowering stage.Mixed cropping also showed relatively higher yield of corn, the following crop rather than other types, mainly due to the more biomass production potential and higher N and P production ability.Therefore, mixed cropping was adaptable method to reduce or replace chemical fertilizer application for environmentally-friendly agriculture.