Impacts of agroforestry systems and intercropping on the growth, production, and seed quality of corn and beans

This study assesses the impacts of agroforestry systems (AS) and intercropping on the growth, yield, and seed quality of corn and beans in Brazil, a major global producer of these crops. Given the growing importance of sustainable agriculture, family farming, which greatly supports the nation’s corn and bean output, holds a pivotal role. This research explores the efficacy of AS and intercropping in enhancing agricultural sustainability by examining plant growth parameters, yield components, and seed germination quality under varying conditions of full sun and shaded agroforestry environments. The study, conducted over two agricultural seasons using a randomized block design, compared the growth, yield, and seed quality of corn and bean cultivars grown both solo and intercropped, in full sun and AS settings. Measurements included growth indicators (height, leaf area, stem diameter), yield components (number of pods, grains per plant, production per plant), and seed quality parameters (germination rate, seed vigor). The findings indicate that AS improves plant growth characteristics despite a yield reduction due to decreased solar radiation by 59.9% and 60.0% for corn, and 49.7% and 63.4% for beans, in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, respectively. Although AS and intercropping increased the initial germination rate count in corn, they did not affect the final germination test outcomes. Similarly, the germination of BRS Paisano seeds remained unchanged under shaded conditions. These results underscore agroforestry and intercropping as sustainable agricultural practices capable of enhancing plant growth while maintaining productive yields.