Effects of wheat and faba bean intercropping on yield, land-use efficiency and economic revenue in semi-arid areas

Intercropping faba bean and wheat in semi-arid areas is a promising agricultural practice that has the potential to enhance crop yields and economic benefits. Farmers commonly use this practice in semi-arid regions of Ethiopia. Yet there is limited information on grain yield and economic advantages of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) intercropping systems. This study aimed to determine the effects of faba bean intercrops with wheat varieties at different seeding rates on grain yield, economic revenue, and land-use efficiency. The study was conducted in 2013 and 2014 at Mekelle Agricultural Research Centre, northern Ethiopia (Latitude 13° 30′ 00ʺ N, Longitude 39° 28′ 11ʺ E, and elevation 1970 m). The study considered three wheat varieties (Shehan, HAR 2501, and Mekelle 01) at three seeding rates (25%, 50%, and 75%) of the recommended sole wheat seeding rate of 150 kg ha⁻¹ intercropped with faba bean at 250,000 plants ha⁻¹. Sole cropping of each wheat variety and faba bean at the recommended seeding rates served as controls. Faba bean intercropped with the wheat HAR 2501 variety at a 75% seeding rate increased the total grain yield, economic revenue, and land equivalent ratio (LER) by 39%, 17%, and 50%, respectively, over the sole faba bean. The study suggests that intercropping faba bean and wheat can be a sustainable farming practice to enhance crop grain yield and land-use productivity in semi-arid areas.