Interseeding snap pea into stands of chile pepper reduces yield of pea more than that of Chile

'Sugar Snap' snap peas (Pisum sativum L.) were interseeded into a stand of 'Espanola Improved' chile pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in July or Aug. in 1995, 1996, and 1997, Peas were interseeded as one or two rows per bed, giving planting rates of about 92 or 184 kg.ha(-1), respectively. Our objectives were to determine: 1) if intercropped pea would reduce chile yield and vice versa; 2) the effects of pea planting rates and dates on pea yield, Intercropped peas reduced chile yield by about 22% in 1995, but had no significant effects in other years. Pea plants from the August intercrops reached the flowering stage but did not produce pods in 1995 or 1996; some small pods were produced from August intercrops in 1997. Final plant densities were lower and less uniform in 1996 than in 1995 or 1997, Intercropped peas yielded less than monocropped peas in all years. Pea yields ranged from 1370 to 3960 kg.ha(-1) when monocropped, 31 kg.ha(-1) (1996 single-row) to 646 kg.ha(-1) (1995 double-row) when intercropped. In 1995 only, the double-row intercrop yielded more peas than the single-row intercrop, Pod yield/plant was reduced 80%, 98%, and 96% in 1995, 1996, and 1997, respectively, by intercropping. Estimated gross revenues for the treatments indicate that, under the price assumptions used in the study, interseeding snap peas into stands of chile in north-central New Mexico is not economically advantageous compared with monocropped chile.