The Impact of Intercropping between Maize and Soya Bean on Soil Moisture and Soil Temperature Related to Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.), River Nile State, Sudan

Intercropping has benefited the global agricultural sector in several ways. It is a critical farming practice for long-term productivity, agro-ecological improvement, land management and land use. It is a well-known method to increase soil health and crop productivity. Mixtures of cereals and legumes are used extensively for forage production. Mix between maize (Zea mays) and soya bean (Glycine max L.) was used to investigate intercropping effect on moisture and temperature of soil related to yield of maize. The experiment was carried out with randomized complete block design with four replications. The results showed that intercropping systems had non-significant effect on yield of maize. But it affected soil conditions especially between plant; and reduced soil temperature rang about 0.3-8 ℃ affected by treatment of soya bean sowing methods (W2) for both seasons. The percentage of soil moisture content was increased about 1%-18% in treatment W2. It was because of increase of percentage of canopy cover fraction by soya bean covered, the conditions area of maize was adapted to give chance for increased irrigation intervals of maize without making stress.