An ecologically-based approach to the design of intercrop agroecosystems: An intercropping system of soybeans and tomatoes in Southern Michigan

Abstract

A model is developed in which the elementary structure of plant competision is translated into the classical yield-density equation. Using the same reasoning, an interspecific form of the model is formulated to predict yielding patterns of intercrops. An experimental system of a tomato/soybean intercrop in southern Michigan was used to test the model. While the fit of the data to the model is generally good, the deviations were sufficiently systematic to suggest several modificafications. Augmenting the model to account for spatial variability in the interspecific competitive effect, an excellent fit to experimental results was obtained. The results suggest that a theoretical approach involving plant interactions at the demographic level will be useful in a program of evaluating intercrop designs.