Effects of intercropping field pea (pisum sativum) and spring barley (hordeum vulgare) on weed suppression and yield parameters on field pea

Reducing the use of artificial inputs through diversification of the agricultural systems is becoming a key issue in modern agriculture. The complementarity between legumes and cereal plants is the main factor on the selection of these crops. Multiple ecosystem services are provided with the mixtures of those plants. In this study, the effect of intercropping field pea (Pisum sativum) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) on weed suppression and yield was assessed in 2021. The intercrop system supressed the weeds 87% when compared with the monocrop. Weed density and weed biomass was lower in the intercrop system. The total yield did not present a significant difference between the monocrop and the intercrop system, indicating that the intercrop of field pea and spring barley is a promising agricultural practice that can be used to reduce weeds without influencing total yield.