Growth and dry-matter partitioning of winter maize (Zea mays) as influenced by intercropping

An experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) seasons of 2003–04 and 2004–05 on sandy loam soil at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh to study the effect of intercropping with rabi season crops, viz. potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson], toria (Brassica campestris var. toria), pea (Pisum sativum L. sensulato), linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori and Paol.) on growth parameters, dry-matter accumulation and its partitioning of winter maize (Zea mays L.). Plant height, functional leaves plant⁻¹, dry matter accumulation at different growth stages, crop growth rate and relative growth rate were more when maize intercropped with potato followed by maize + pea intercropping system. Maize + potato gave 22.0% more grain yield followed by maize + pea (7.2%) system than that of sole stand of maize. Partitioning of dry-matter at 110 days after sowing indicated the maximum contribution from stems (43.4%) followed by cobs (33.6%), leaves (15.6%), roots (5.7%) and flowers (1.8%), whereas at physiological maturity, the cobs contributed the maximum (59.4%) followed by stems (26.3%), leaves (9.9%), roots (3.3%) and flowers (1.0%) towards total dry-matter production. Among the intercropping combinations, maize + potato produced significantly higher total dry-matter as well as cobs and grain weight at maturity followed by maize + pea system. A significantly positive association of grain weight with total dry-matter, stem weight, root weight, leaf weight, cobs weight and flower weight under these intercropping systems indicated that higher biomass yield and its maximum partitioning into cobs improved the grain yield of maize. Intercropping of toria and wheat with maize caused maximum reduction in total dry-matter production.