Can Using Wide-Row Mixed Cropping Improve Corn Systems for Small Holders?.

A system of growing very wide row corn, with rows at or near 2 m apart, can allow one to raise additional crops between the corn rows. Such a system lends itself well to small holder systems where smaller machinery, hand work, and limited crop management chemicals are available or used. When the corn yield can be maintained near or at the yield level of a corn monocrop with narrower row spacing, the benefit of having a second crop on the same ground can be great. Data from recent U.S. studies indicate that corn yields from carefully planned very wide row systems can be at or near those attained with narrower row spacing. The system provides and a wide space between rows for other crops to be grown, with more abundant light at and near the soil surface than in narrower row systems. Crops grown between the corn rows may be synergistic to the corn crop or somewhat in competition, depending on the needs of the farm system. In either case, the system may significantly improve resource use efficiency and increase the land equivalent ratio of the system above one, both potentially resulting in greater returns and more stability in the system.