Food security under smallholder farming can be improved through innovative intensification of cropping systems. Maize (Zea mays L.) – mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) – common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) sequential intercropping was studied to evaluate the patterns of radiation capture and radiation use efficiency and to determine the effects of leaf removal and row orientation on performance and intercropping efficiency. Sequential intercropping captured 1039 MJ m−2 photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) accounting for 70% of incident seasonal PAR. The corresponding sole stands for maize captured 41%, mungbean 29%, common bean 34% and mungbean–common bean 63%. Intercropped components had interception ratios of 0.98, 0.31 and 0.61 for maize, mungbean and common bean, respectively. Associated maize used intercepted light with similar efficiency, mungbean with greater efficiency and common bean with lesser efficiency compared to sole crops. Maize leaf removal and row orientation had no significant effect on performance and partial land equivalent ratio (LER) of maize. Leaf removal under East–West (EW) orientation increased grain yield by 96%, total biomass by 63%, partial LER by 92%, in common bean and total LER by 7%. Leaf removal also improved grain yield, biomass yield, partial LER, in common bean and total LER during the wetter year of 2013. Similarly, EW orientation was advantageous in 2013 raising total LER by 8%. Maize leaf removal and EW row orientation had synergistic effects on intercropping efficiency and economic benefit and both have exerted positive influence under favourable weather. Total LER values of 1.47 in 2013 and 1.29 in 2015 had revealed greater biological efficiency for intercropping during both years though it was more profitable in 2013. Thus, the cropping system can be adopted under timely onset of the rainy season using EW row orientation while leaf removal can also be practiced depending on weather conditions and convenience.

中文翻译：

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玉米-绿豆-普通豆顺序间作在不同叶片去除和行向方案下的性能、辐射捕获和利用

小农耕作下的粮食安全可以通过种植系统的创新集约化得到改善。玉米（玉米L.) – 绿豆 (豇豆(L.) Wilczek) – 普通豆 (菜豆L.) 对连续间作进行了研究，以评估辐射捕获和辐射利用效率的模式，并确定叶片去除和行方向对性能和间作效率的影响。连续间作捕获 1039 MJ m-2光合有效辐射 (PAR) 占入射季节性 PAR 的 70%。相应的唯一代表玉米捕获 41%、绿豆 29%、普通豆 34% 和绿豆-普通豆 63%。间作组分对玉米、绿豆和普通豆的截留率分别为0.98、0.31和0.61。与单一作物相比，相关玉米使用具有相似效率的拦截光，绿豆效率更高，普通豆效率更低。玉米叶片去除和行方向对玉米的性能和部分土地当量比（LER）没有显着影响。东西方向（EW）下的叶片去除使谷物产量增加了 96%，总生物量增加了 63%，部分 LER 增加了 92%，普通豆和总 LER 增加了 7%。除叶还提高了谷物产量、生物量产量、部分 LER、在 2013 年较潮湿的一年中，普通豆和总 LER 均有所下降。同样，EW 方向在 2013 年具有优势，将总 LER 提高了 8%。玉米除叶和EW行定向对间作效率和经济效益具有协同作用，在有利天气条件下均产生了积极影响。2013 年和 2015 年的总 LER 值分别为 1.47 和 1.29，这表明这两年间作的生物效率更高，尽管 2013 年利润更高。因此，可以在雨季及时开始时采用 EW 行方向而叶也可以根据天气条件和方便程度进行拆除。玉米除叶和EW行定向对间作效率和经济效益具有协同作用，在有利天气条件下均产生了积极影响。2013 年和 2015 年的总 LER 值分别为 1.47 和 1.29，这表明这两年间作的生物效率更高，尽管 2013 年利润更高。因此，可以在雨季及时开始时采用 EW 行方向而叶也可以根据天气条件和方便程度进行拆除。玉米除叶和EW行定向对间作效率和经济效益具有协同作用，在有利天气条件下均产生了积极影响。2013 年和 2015 年的总 LER 值分别为 1.47 和 1.29，这表明这两年间作的生物效率更高，尽管 2013 年利润更高。因此，可以在雨季及时开始时采用 EW 行方向而叶也可以根据天气条件和方便程度进行拆除。