Soybean plants grow better when planted closer together with wheat, rather than farther apart. This study compared different planting patterns and found that soybeans planted in narrow rows next to wheat yielded 23% more than those planted in wider rows. The researchers also discovered that water stress had a bigger impact on soybean growth than competition from wheat for light and resources. Overall, soybeans in the intercropping system yielded less than those grown alone, with most of the yield loss due to lack of water. This shows that water availability is crucial for the success of soybeans in a wheat-soybean intercropping system.