Crop Yield in Barley-Pulse Intercropping Systems under Well-Watered and Drought-Stressed Conditions

Idaho leads the nation in barley production, even though eastern Idaho (the state’s largest contributor) receives very little annual precipitation. Applying shrewd irrigation management practices is important under these conditions, but another way to improve or maintain yields is to diversify cropping systems. This bulletin highlights the results of three trials of barley-pulse intercropping at high and low water availabilities at three southern Idaho locations. Indeed, incorporating crops with different water needs, like pulses, through rotation and intercropping shows promise for dryland farming, depending on the combination used.