Abstract
This protocol describes a three-strip intercropping system combining field corn, forage sorghum shade strips, and perennial wildflower predator habitat strips. The system provides simultaneous heat stress reduction (2–8°F leaf cooling), windbreak protection (5–15% yield increase), and conservation biological control (16–40% pest reduction) for dryland corn in the US Corn Belt. The pest control benefit is specifically activated by the intercrop configuration, and predator populations are sustained through heat events by the wildflower strip. The system requires no new hardware, no irrigation, and no proprietary technology. It can be implemented with existing combine, planter, and sprayer equipment. (This is a Large Download But if it Works A Large Potential Benefit)
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Caldwell, Michael Victor Mr., "THREE-STRIP INTERCROPPING SYSTEM FOR HEAT STRESS REDUCTION IN FIELD CORN: A Complete Research & Implementation Protocol", Technical Disclosure Commons, ()
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/11709