Enhancing intercropping efficiency: A new model for precise quantification of shading impact in maize-soybean systems

Intercropping, the simultaneous cultivation of multiple crops, is beneficial for maximizing resource use but poses challenges due to the shading of lower crops by higher ones. This shading, quantified as Cumulative Shading Capacity (CSC), significantly affects light interception and crop efficiency but remains poorly understood. Previous research mainly has focused on light distribution and crop responses without directly quantifying CSC and its variability across rows. Despite attempts using geometrical and statistical models, accurate, direct CSC quantification and understanding inter-row heterogeneity remain elusive.