The usage of imidazolinone-tolerant maize in maize-soybean strip intercropping greatly facilitates weed control

The strip intercropping system is one of the important production strategy for maize and soybean. However, it faces significant yield losses due to the lack of safe and effective postemergence herbicides compatible with both crops. In this context, the introduction of imidazolinone-tolerant maize presents a potential solution, yet the associated crop traits, yield outcomes, herbicidal efficacy, and economic impacts have not been thoroughly evaluated. Therefore, this study systematically compares two weed control strategies in maize-soybean strip intercropping system: non-segregated weeding (NSW), which uses imidazolinone-tolerant maize to allow for shared herbicide application, and segregated weeding (SW), which employs a dual-system sprayer for separate herbicide treatments for maize and soybean. A control group with no weed control (NW) was also included to compare the results across treatments. Our results revealed that the differences in plant height and stem diameter between maize and soybean were not significant between NSW and SW, though both were substantially lower compared to their respective monocultures. Compared to SW, the NSW treatment increased the leaf area index, total dry matter accumulation, and grain yield of soybean by 33%, 17%, and 79%, respectively. For maize, these parameters were marginally higher but not significant, indicating that the NSW treatment benefited soybean growth and yield more than maize in maize-soybean strip intercropping system. Overall, maize and soybean under SW and NSW achieved land equivalent ratios of 0.96 and 0.99 for maize, and 0.40 and 0.80 for soybean, respectively, suggesting that the NSW strategy provided better weed control and allowed for more efficient land use for both maize and soybean. Specifically, in terms of weed suppression, NSW outperformed SW, with the number and fresh weight of weeds ( Gramineae , Broadleaf , Cyperaceous ) reduced to 16% and 20% of those in SW, and to 5% and 4% of those in NW, respectively. Moreover, NSW increased weeding speed by fivefold, reduced herbicide and spraying costs by $37.05 USD ha -1 , and enhanced net benefits by 58%, reaching $3414.12 USD ha -1 . These findings demonstrate that NSW, based on imidazolinone-tolerant maize, offers a more convenient, economical, and efficient weed management strategy for maize-soybean strip intercropping system.