Farm scale evaluation of Intercropping Spring Beans and Oats

In 2018 and 2019 PGRO conducted intercropping trials with peas plus spring oats and spring beans. In 2019 Spring bean plus spring oats were also included.

Small plot trials, while of benefit can sometimes suffer from neighbouring plot effects. An opportunity arose in 2019 to conduct an intercropping trial of spring beans plus spring oats on a farm scale, using large plots and farm machinery.

The trial was not without difficulties as the beans did not quite establish to the intended plant density due to issues with the farm saved seed. However despite this

All intercrop mixtures gave highly positive LERs >1.0, indicating an advantage to growing the intercrop as opposed to a sole crop. The highest LER was from the mixture of Bean45/Oat70 (LER 1.30).

It is intended that a refined repeat of this work will take place in 2020.

Return to case study: Value chain for field beans with Frontier Agriculture Ltd (United Kingdom)