Effects of a maize - soybean strip intercropping system on canopy level wind velocities in a semi-humid region of central Europe

Abstract Intercropping has been proposed as an alternative to conventional monoculture systems by improving biomass water use efficiency (WUE) and grain yield based WUE through modified microclimatic conditions. However, little is known about its potential to mitigate wind velocities (WV) in semi-humid Central European environments. A two-year field experimental case study (2023–2024) was conducted to assess wind-breaking effects in a maize–soybean strip intercropping system. Treatments included sole crop and strip-intercropping plots, where microclimatic and crop data were collected. WV and wind direction (WD) of the treatments were measured at 1m and 2m above ground. Reference 2m above ground WV from the Integrated Nowcasting through Comprehensive Analysis (INCA) in both years were used for comparison between the two years. Wind reduction effects (WRE) were further analyzed in relation to wind direction sectors (WS). Strip intercropped plots showed significantly reduced wind velocities in respect to the 2m INCA reference, with the strongest effects in soybean (SS) and maize strips (MS) at 1m measurement height. In 2023, mean reductions ranged from 0.6–1.0 m/s (SS) and 0.5–1.4 m/s (MS), while in 2024, reductions ranged from 0.7–1.2 m/s (SS) and 0.7–1.1 m/s (MS). The highest WRE occurred in the climatological main wind directions (270–360° in 2023; 315–360° in 2024), consistent with the north–south strip and row orientation. Both, above ground dry biomass and grain yield based WUE calculations largely confirmed positive effects of wind reduction with some differences between 20203 and 2024 due to weather conditions. Wind reduction supports not improved grain yield based WUE (2023: -7.7 kg/m³ (SS), -21.8 kg/m³ (MS); 2024: -21.7 kg/m³ (SS), -13.4 kg/m³ (MS)) in comparison to mono cropped plots. The biomass WUE compared to the mono cropped plots was in 2023 positive (+ 14.9 kg/m³ (SS) and 58.1 kg/m³ (MS), while in 2024 the biomass WUE was negative (-181.7 kg/m² (SS) and − 192.3 kg/m³ (MS)). The outcomes are influenced by strip width and crop-specific interactions (i.e. biomass WUE), highlighting the importance of strip design such as strip orientation in respect to main wind directions for optimizing microclimatic benefits.