Journal of Hunan Ecological Science

【Objective】It is to make a comprehensive analysis of intercropping patterns based on cot- ton in the Yangtze River Basin and screen out the cropping patterns with high economic benefits. 【Method】Using single factor random block design, 9 intercropping patterns of cotton / sweet potato (MG), cotton / corn (MY), cotton / peanut (MH), cotton / oil sunflower (MK), cotton / soybean (MD), cotton / artemisia annua (MQ), cotton / melon (MT), cotton / pepper (ML), cotton / cowpea (MJ) and 9 crop monoculture patterns were set up, and the differences in actual physical and chemical costs, labor costs and system economic benefits were compared. 【Result】Through the comparative analysis of the yield advantage of 9 intercropping patterns of cotton field, the difference of land equivalent ratio of different intercropping treatments was very significant (P<0. 01). The land equivalent ratios of MT and MG were 1. 48 and 1. 30, respectively, with obvious intercropping yield advantage. The land equivalent ratios of ML and MQ were 1. 21, with a certain yield advantage. The effects of different intercropping treatments on the total output value were very significant. Among them, the total output value of MJ, ML, MG and MT was higher, which showed significant difference from the total output value of cotton single cropping, and the income increase benefit was obvious. Combined with the cost of production materials and human input, although the costs of MJ, MG, MT and ML were relatively high, the average net incomes per mu were still considerable due to the obvious advantages of the total output value, which were 250. 7 times, 170. 2 times, 163. 0 times and 160. 1 times of the net income of cotton mono cropping, respectively. 【Conclusion】The four high benefit intercropping patterns of MJ, ML, MG and MT were selected, in which MJ ranked first in total output value and net yield. ML had obvious yield increase benefits on cot- ton, and MG and MT had great improvement on sub-crops and cotton yield, which could provide refer- ence for cotton efficient planting and benefit improvement in the Yangtze River Basin.

cotton; intercropping; pattern; economic benefits