Optimizing resource utilization through intercropping soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and maize (Zea mays L.) in Middle Egypt

Ouda, Samiha (author), Zohry, Abd El-Hafeez (author)

The agronomic and economic performance of soybean–maize intercropping under different irrigation regimes and soybean planting densities was assessed during two field seasons (2022–2023) in Egypt. Three irrigation levels were applied: 120 % ETc (optimal), 100 % ETc, and 80 % ETc. Maize was grown at the recommended density in both sole and intercropped systems, while soybean was intercropped at 50 %, 65 %, and 75 % of its recommended density. Increasing soybean density enhanced soybean yield but reduced maize grain yield due to interspecific competition, particularly under drought stress conditions. The highest land equivalent ratio (1.61) was achieved with 75 % soybean combined with full maize density. All intercropping treatments recorded water equivalent ratios greater than unity, with maximum water-use efficiency (1.41) observed at 50 % soybean density. Intercropping significantly increased soil nitrogen and available phosphorus compared with sole maize, with greater improvements at higher soybean densities. Economic analysis revealed that 75 % soybean–100 % maize combination produced the highest economic returns across irrigation regimes. Despite yield reductions under water stress, intercropping consistently outperformed monocropping in productivity and profitability. Soybean–maize intercropping is a sustainable approach to enhance land and water use efficiency, soil fertility, and farm income under water-limited conditions.

• Language: English
• Keywords: land and water equivalent ratios, monetary advantage index, planting density, soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 23 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 122, no. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-180563
• UDC: 633
• ISSN on article: 1854-1941
• DOI: 10.14720/aas.2026.122.1.24399
• COBISS.SI-ID: 271208963
• Publication date in RUL: 11.03.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Acta agriculturae Slovenica
• Publisher: Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za agronomijo in Oddelek za zootehniko, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za agronomijo in Oddelek za zootehniko, Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 1854-1941
• COBISS.SI-ID: 219581184

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Optimiziranje izrabe virov pri skupnem gojenju soje (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in koruze (Zea mays L.) v Srednjem Egiptu
• Keywords: razmerje ekvivalenta produktivnosti zemlje in vode, indeks denarne prednosti, gostota sajenja, razpoložljivost dušika in fosforja v tleh