What determines a productive winter bean-wheat genotype combination for intercropping in central Germany?

Little is known about optimising the productivity of intercropping through exploiting differences between genotypes. Our study evaluates performance three winter wheat cultivars and eight faba bean genotypes (experimental inbred lines) sown as replacement row intercrops with sole cropping comparisons. Detailed agronomic, physiological soil-based measurements were taken over consecutive autumn-sown seasons at two sites (a marginal versus a fertile soil) in central Germany. This aimed to contribute our understanding key traits required achieve highly complementary well-performing intercrops. Faba plus yielded higher than crop equivalents both sites, but more so site (34 % > 12 %). High intercrop yields associated high component yields. Such stands included that exhibited low leaf area index (LAI) values plant height. Tall large beans i.e. vegetative biomass led excessive lodging, when intercropped. To some extent, this concealed effects genotype trait variation would have otherwise been visible had lodging not occurred. The expression these was heavily influenced by environmental conditions. At less site, even tall intercropped showed relatively lower biomass, which promoted superior overyielding relative yield total. While site-specific are key, German need further genetic improvement refrain from superfluous growth water resources plentiful.