Eignung verschiedener Stangen- und Feuerbohnensorten fürden Mais-Bohnen-Gemengeanbau und Optimierung derBestandeszusammensetzung

Traditional intercropping systems with maize and climbing beans have the potential to improve the protein- and energy supply from locally grown roughage. As previous field experiments at the Thunen Institute of Organic Farming have shown, the crude protein content of maize silage can be enhanced by intercropping with climbing Phaseolus beans. Since 2014 further field experiments are conducted, that aim to optimize bean yield and fodder quality in intercropping with maize. Therefore four cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris (Pv) and two cultivars of P. coccineus (Pc) are evaluated for their intercropping potential. Furthermore, the influence of varied seed densities on bean yield and crude nutrients are evaluated for two selected bean cultivars. The experiments have shown, that bean yield is mainly influenced by the choice of cultivar. Varied seed densities had little effect on the almost higher bean yields of cv. Tarbais (Pv) while the yield of cv. Preisgewinner (Pc) increased at higher seed densities. As the cv. Tarbais had the highest bean yields in both years, and total yield was comparable to the maize control, this cultivar has the highest potential for intercropping at our site.