The pattern of intercropping and monoculture of maize (Zea mays L.) and peanuts (Arachishypogaea L.) on weed properties

In order to evaluate the effects of intercropping of maize- peanut, weeding and their planting design on weed population dynamics, an experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment in the form of RCBD with three replications at the Research Farm of Agriculture Center of Zabol University (Iran) in 2012. The treatments including sowing system in four levels as first factor (sole maize, sole peanut, 50% maize 50% peanut, 100% maize 100% peanut) and row spacing as the second factor in two levels (40 and 50 cm) and weeding as third factor in three levels (non-weeding, once weeding, twice weeding). The results showed that 100% corn 흍% peanut intercropping patterns had the lowest weed density and dry weight compared to intercropping of 50% corn % of the peanuts. The peanut monoculture compared to other intercropping patterns had the highest density and dry weight of weeds. With the increasing number of weeding, the number and dry weight of weeds decreased. Among the different row spacing, the density and weight of weeds between rows of 40 cm was less than 50 cm. It seems various features of crops such as height and canopy closure will have the most effect on weed control. The results of this experiment showed that the highest weed controlling was obtained from 100% maize 100% peanut, density of 50 cm and twice weeding.