CROP RESEARCH

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of the year 2009 to assess the impact of different integrated nutrient management practices on the productivity and profitability of soybean plus maize intercropping system grown on black clay soils under rainfed conditions. The results of the study revealed that the intercropping of soybean plus maize in 4. 2 row ratio was best as compared to their sole cropping regardless of different nutrient management practices. Reduced levels of fertilizer N, P and K in conjunction with farm yard manure and seed inoculation with rhizobium, azotobacter, and PSB culture helped in increased availability of nutrients, crop productivity, net monetary returns and profitability from the system. The treatment T₆ (Soybean+maize intercropping in 4: 2 rows with 50% RDF+seed inoculation with Rhizobium @ 10 g/kg seed in soybean and 1/3 RDF+seed inoculation with Azotobacter @ 10 g/kg seed in maize crop with 5 t FYM/ha+PSB @ 10 g/kg seed to both the crops+50% of RD of N for maize in two splits to maize crop only) ranked first as it resulted in the highest SEY (2280 kg/ha), LER (1.49), net monetary returns (Rs. 25943/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.50). Next in order of merit was the treatment T₅ (Soybean+maize intercropping in 4: 2 rows with 50% RDF+seed inoculation with Rhizobium @ 10 g/kg seed in soybean and 1/3 RDF+seed inoculation with Azotobacter @ 10 g/kg seed in maize crop with 5 t FYM/ha+PSB @ 10 g/kg seed to both the crops) in this respect by giving SEY (2148 kg/ha), LER (1.40), net monetary returns (Rs. 23933/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.40). There were no considerable changes in soil pH and electrical conductivity of soil due to different treatments. These results emphasize that intercropping coupled with biofertilizers treatment helped in reducing depletion of soil available P. In general, intercropping of soybean plus maize has been found relatively more productive and profitable as compared to sole cropping of individual component crops.