Ibrahim Al‑Fandi^1*, Ahmad Al‑Ali Al‑Khalaf² and Mohammad Khair Othman¹

1 Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, AL-Furat University, Syria.
2 Raqqa Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Researc.
(*Corresponding author: Ibrahim Al‑Fandi, Email: ibrahemalfandi2@gmail.com). 

Received: 25/ 1/ 2026     Accepted: 2/ 6/ 2026

Abstract: 

This study was conducted in the Al-Sabkha sub district of Raqqa Governorate during the 2025 growing season to evaluate the phenological and productive performance of maize–peanut intercropping systems and to assess resource-use efficiency across a set of key agronomic traits. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and included seven intercropping patterns in addition to sole cropping. Measurements encompassed days to flowering, thousand-kernel and thousand-seed weights, grain and pod yields, biological yield, harvest index, and productivity efficiency indicators such as the System Productivity Index (SPI), Maize Equivalent Yield (MEY), and Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE). The results demonstrated a clear advantage of intercropping systems over sole cropping in most evaluated traits. Maize flowering occurred between 63 and 66 days, while peanut flowering ranged from 75 to 77 days. Intercropping enhanced yield components, with maize thousand-kernel weight ranging from 270 to 300 g and peanut thousand-seed weight from 846.7 to 1103.3 g. The (3 maize rows + 1 peanut row) system produced the highest maize grain yield (5.167 t ha⁻¹), whereas the (4 maize rows + 4 peanut rows) system achieved the highest peanut yield (2.833 t ha⁻¹). Superior systems also exhibited increased biological yield and harvest index, indicating balanced vegetative and reproductive growth. The (3 maize rows + 1 peanut row) system recorded the highest SPI (2.243 t ha⁻¹) and RUE (1.03 g MJ⁻¹), while the A4:B4 system achieved the highest MEY (12.27 t ha⁻¹), confirming its overall superiority. These findings highlight the potential of maize – peanut intercropping – particularly the 3:1 and 4:4 row arrangements – as an effective strategy for enhancing productivity and improving resource-use efficiency in arid and semi-arid environments.

Keywords: Intercropping systems, maize, peanut, productivity efficiency indicator.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF