Herbal Companion Crops as an Example of Implementation of Sustainable Plant Protection Practices in Soybean Cultivation

Adrian Sikora, Joanna Dłużniewska, Bogdan Kulig and Agnieszka Klimek-Kopyra ()
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Adrian Sikora: Department of Agroecology and Plant Production, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Aleja Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
Joanna Dłużniewska: Department of Microbiology and Biomonitoring, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Aleja Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
Bogdan Kulig: Department of Agroecology and Plant Production, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Aleja Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
Agnieszka Klimek-Kopyra: Department of Agroecology and Plant Production, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Aleja Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Kraków, Poland

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: This study aimed to assess the effect of using selected herbs as companion crops in soybean cultivation on the yield and overall health of soybeans. A three-year field experiment (2021–2023) was conducted using a randomized block design with three replications, where the primary experimental variable was the sowing method. The innovative cropping system involved cultivating soybeans alongside different companion herbs, such as alyssum ( Lobularia maritima L.), fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), borage ( Borago officinalis L.), French marigold ( Tagetes patula L.), calendula ( Calendula officinalis L.), and a herbal mixture referred to as ‘MIX’. The study showed that cultivation of soybean with fennel improved the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the yield, with a significant increase in seed yield (on average by 0.27 t ha −1 ) as well as protein (7.67%) and oil yield (8.57%) compared to the pure soybean crop. The following fungal diseases were identified during the three-year study period (2021–2023): Cercospora leaf blight, Ascochyta blight, Fusarium wilt, and downy mildew. Cultivation of soybean with herbs as companion crops was implemented to improve the health of soybean to a varied extent. Borage, marigold, and calendula companion crops reduced infection of soybean by the fungi C. kikuchii and F. oxysporum . Cultivation with fennel and marigold was also beneficial for soybean health. On the other hand, cultivation with sweet alyssum and a mixture of herbs increased the occurrence of the fungus A. sojaecola . Cultivation of soybean in association with herbs is legitimate and requires further research given the priorities facing 21st-century agriculture.

Keywords: soybean; herbs; cropping system; plant health; seed yield (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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