Crops ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (1): 133-142.doi: 10.16035/j.issn.1001-7283.2026.01.017

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Analysis of Production Status and Limiting Factors of Intercropping Systems in Hanggin Rear Banner, Hetao Irrigation District

Hou Yue1(), Song Tao1(), Xu Junping1, Li Jie2, Zhao Qiang2, Li Chunjie1(), Chen Fanjun1   

  1. 1College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University / National Academy of Agriculture Green Development / State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, Beijing 100193, China
    2Modern Agricultural Development Center of Hanggin Rear Banner, Bayannur 015400, Inner Mongolia, China
  • Received:2024-08-01 Revised:2024-08-16 Online:2026-02-15 Published:2026-02-10

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Abstract:

To clarify the production status and limiting factors of intercropping systems in the Hetao Irrigation District, Hanggin Rear Banner, a representative area for crop cultivation in the Hetao Irrigation District, was selected as the research site for the survey. Based on 503 valid questionnaires from 24 administrative villages across eight townships of Hanggin Rear Banner, the results showed that the intercropping systems were widely applied in Hanggin Rear Banner. There were wheat/maize, wheat/sunflower, watermelon/sunflower and maize||soybean (mainly food and cash crops). The wheat/maize and wheat/sunflower relay were cropping the most prevalent, accounting for 42.5% and 23.5%, respectively. Both systems significantly improved land use efficiency, with land equivalent ratios of wheat/maize and wheat/sunflower were 1.48 and 1.29, respectively. There were two main limitations of applying intercropping in this region. On the one hand, field managements were more complex in intercropping than monocultures, with the average number of irrigations and weeding times were higher, with an average of 1.0 and 0.9 times higher than in monocropping, respectively; on the other hand, the average amount of nitrogen application in intercropping systems was 70.7% higher than in monocropping. Overall, it is necessary to further explore field management practices and fertilization strategies suitable for intercropping in the area to reduce water and fertilizer inputs. Meanwhile, the research and development of intercropping machinery, herbicides and other related production materials should be strengthened, and technical training should be carried out to enhance farmers? understanding of intercropping.

Key words: Status of intercropping production, Limiting factor, Hetao Irrigation District

Table 1

Characteristics of farmers in the survey sample"

指标Index 分布Distribution 占比Proportion (%)
人口Population 男 84
女 16
年龄Age < 40 2
40~50 10
50~60 56
> 60 32
受教育水平
Educational level		 小学 28.4
初中 59.2
高中 11.4
高中以上 1.0
经营类型Operation type 小农户 92
合作社 5
订单生产户 3

Table 2

Sample distribution of intercropping systems in the Hanggin Rear Banner"

编号
Number		 地区
Area		 小麦/
向日葵
Wheat/
Sunflower		 小麦/
玉米
Wheat/
Maize		 西瓜/
向日葵
Watermelon/
Sunflower		 玉米||大豆
Maize||
Soybean		 总计
Total
1 头道桥镇 62 21 0 5 88
2 二道桥镇 5 10 0 4 19
3 蛮会镇 6 10 0 4 20
4 陕坝镇 0 0 0 9 9
5 蒙海镇 2 3 14 1 20
6 三道桥镇 0 1 15 0 16
7 沙海镇 0 0 0 10 10
8 双庙镇 10 2 0 6 18
总计Total 85 47 29 39 200

Fig.1

Crop yields in different cropping systems"

Fig.2

Fertilizer application amount in different cropping systems"

Fig.3

TND of different intercropping systems"

Fig.4

Irrigation frequency and weeding frequency of different cropping systems “n”represents the number of survey samples."

Fig.5

Mechanization status of farming managements in different intercropping systems (a), (b), (c), and (d) represent mechanization of wheat/sunflower, wheat/maize, watermelon/sunflower, and maize||soybean intercropping, respectively."

Fig.6

Reasons for adopting intercropping and sources of information on field management of intercropping"

Fig.7

Demands for technical guidance and willingness of intercropping"

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