Abstract
Legume–cereal intercropping systems offer promising solutions for sustainable agriculture, yet their performance is influenced by environmental and management factors. This study evaluated the productivity and nutrient dynamics of field pea ( Pisum sativum L.), lentil ( Lens culinaris Medik.), and chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) grown in pure stands and relay-row intercropping with winter rye ( Secale cereale L.) over three growing seasons (2022–2024) in central Lithuania. The relay-row intercropping system consisted of two rows of winter rye alternating with one row of legumes, maintaining a seed ratio of 1:0.3 (legume/rye). Legume biomass and grain yield were significantly affected by interannual climatic variability, with peas consistently producing the highest yields. Relay intercropping reduced legume yield, particularly under unfavourable conditions, when winter rye gained a competitive advantage. Competition was most pronounced at early growth stages (BBCH 39), as indicated by negative RCI values, while at maturity this effect diminished. Nutrient accumulation patterns differed among species: chickpeas accumulated more phosphorus and potassium, lentils accumulated more nitrogen, and peas showed the highest relative NPK yield in favourable years. Intercropping did not significantly alter nutrient concentrations in biomass; however, under unfavourable conditions, increased total nitrogen in mixtures was mainly associated with rye biomass rather than enhanced biological nitrogen fixation. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing intercrop design—including cultivar selection, seeding ratios, and spatial configuration—to balance competition and complementarity and improve legume productivity in relay systems with winter rye. • In both cropping systems, peas achieved the highest grain, and biomass yields among the studied legumes. • Relay intercropping with winter rye reduced legume yields, particularly in unfavourable years. • Peas and chickpeas accumulated more NPK than lentils, especially under favourable conditions. • Optimization of crop selection, seed rates, and spatial arrangements is crucial for improved intercrop performance.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Peas had the highest grain and biomass yields among the legumes in both systems.
- Taxon
- peas
Lathyrus oleraceuse1 - Outcome
- grain, and biomass yieldse1
- Direction
- higheste1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“with peas consistently producing the highest yields”
e1“In both cropping systems, peas achieved the highest grain, and biomass yields among the studied legumes.”
Claim · model-written summary
Relay intercropping reduced legume yield, especially in unfavorable conditions.
- Taxon
- legumee0
- Treatment
- Relay intercroppinge0
- Interactor
- winter rye
Secale cerealee0other - Outcome
- legume yielde0
- Direction
- reducede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Relay intercropping reduced legume yield, particularly under unfavourable conditions, when winter rye gained a competitive advantage.”
Claim · model-written summary
Competition was strongest at early growth and diminished at maturity.
- Taxon
- grain legumet0
- Organ / stage
- early growth stages (BBCH 39)e0
- Interactor
- winter ryeSecale cerealet0other
- Outcome
- Competitione0
- Direction
- most pronouncede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Competition was most pronounced at early growth stages (BBCH 39), as indicated by negative RCI values, while at maturity this effect diminished.”
t0“Enhancing grain legume growth and nutrient efficiency through winter rye relay intercropping”
Claim · model-written summary
Chickpeas accumulated more phosphorus and potassium than the other legumes.
- Taxon
- chickpeas
Cicer arietinume0 - Outcome
- phosphorus and potassiume0
- Direction
- moree0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“chickpeas accumulated more phosphorus and potassium”
Claim · model-written summary
Lentils accumulated more nitrogen.
- Taxon
- lentils
Lens culinarise0 - Outcome
- nitrogene0
- Direction
- moree0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“lentils accumulated more nitrogen”
Claim · model-written summary
Peas had the highest relative NPK yield in favorable years.
- Taxon
- peasLathyrus oleraceuse0
- Outcome
- relative NPK yielde0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Qualifier
- favourable yearse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“peas showed the highest relative NPK yield in favourable years”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping did not significantly alter biomass nutrient concentrations.
- Taxon
- grain legumet0
- Treatment
- Intercroppinge0
- Outcome
- nutrient concentrations in biomasse0
- Direction
- did not significantly altere0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Intercropping did not significantly alter nutrient concentrations in biomass”
t0“Enhancing grain legume growth and nutrient efficiency through winter rye relay intercropping”
Claim · model-written summary
Under unfavorable conditions, increased mixture nitrogen was mainly associated with rye biomass.
- Taxon
- grain legumet0
- Interactor
- ryeSecale cerealee0other
- Outcome
- total nitrogen in mixturese0
- Direction
- increasede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“under unfavourable conditions, increased total nitrogen in mixtures was mainly associated with rye biomass rather than enhanced biological nitrogen fixation”
t0“Enhancing grain legume growth and nutrient efficiency through winter rye relay intercropping”