Canopy heterogeneity with border-row proportion affects light interception and use efficiency in maize/peanut strip intercropping

•Different border-row proportions (BRP) in maize/peanut intercropping were compared to mono crops.•Increasing BRP increased light interception (LI) of maize in the intercropping but not for light use efficiency (LUE).•Increasing BRP decreased LI but increased LUE of peanut in the intercropping.•LUE of both crops increased with leaf area index and decreased with light intensity.