Indian Journal of Agronomy
  • Year: 2016
  • Volume: 61
  • Issue: 1

Research Paper Effect of planting pattern and fertility level on hybrid maize (Zea mays) + legume intercropping system under dryland condition

  • Author:
  • Chetan Singh Panwar1, J.P. Singh2, R.N. Meena3,, Pradeep Kumar4
  • Total Page Count: 5
  • Page Number: 20 to 24

1Research Scholar, Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221 005

2Professor, Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221 005

3Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221 005

4Research Scholar, Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221 005

Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221 005

*Corresponding author Email: ramnarayanbhu@gmail.com

Online published on 8 September, 2016.

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in rainy (kharif) seasons of 2011 and 2012, to assess the effect of planting pattern and fertility level on maize (Zea mays L.) with blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril]-based intercropping system under dryland conditions in alluvial soil of Vatanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Among the planting patterns tested, blackgram proved the best intercrops for maize-based planting pattern compared to soybean. In maize condition, maize paired row (50/100 cm) + blackgram (2: 1) significantly increased growth, yield attributes and yield. However, intercropping of blackgram and soybean recorded the maximum yield with maize-paired row (50/100 cm) + intercrops (2: 2), owing to higher plant population of intercrops compared to other planting pattern, except yield attributes. In case of fertility level, maize with 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) + intercrops with 100% RDF recorded the maximum growth, yield attributes and yield, during both the years of investigation. Finally, maize paired row with 2 rows of blackgram intercropping with 100% RDF of both main and intercrops, proved to be the best combination by recording the maximum land-equivalent ratio, maizeequivalent yield, net returns and benefit: cost ratio. Maize with positive aggresivity factor acted as a dominant crop component in overall treatments.

Keywords

Blackgram, Economics, Intercrops, Maize, Paired row, Sole crops, Soybean, Uniform row