Intercropping of legumes with Helianthus species

Intercropping, or growing together more species at the same time in the same place is one of the oldest systems of cultivation in agriculture. Today, intercropping is recommended in sustainable agriculture due to various positive effects. The main advantage of legumes in intercropping is the possibility to increase soil fertility and protein levels with companion plants. The most common agricultural species of the Helianthus genus are sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.). Intercropping of legumes with sunflower has been tested more than with Jerusalem artichoke. Intercropping of Jerusalem artichoke with sweet clover and hairy vetch showed that the level of nitrogen in the soil was not significantly lower than the controls. Intercropped sunflower showed large variations in yield depending on the variety and location. Species like Vicia villosa Roth, Melilotus officinalis Lam., Medicago sativa L. and Medicago scutellata (L.) Mill. have been intercropped with sunflower with the same sowing time and at the V4 and V10 sunflower growth stages