1Tach Armacho District Trade and Market Development Sector, Central Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
2Debre Markos University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Debre Markous, Ethiopia
3Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI), Sekoat Dry Land Agricultural Research Centre (SDARC), Sekota, Ethiopia
*Corresponding author: abebeassefa001@gmail.com (ORCID ID: 0000-0002-8470-0674)
Paper No. 1113
A field experiment was conducted during the 2022 main cropping season to determine the optimum population density of mung bean and row arrangement of sorghum-mung bean intercropping for enhancing the productivity of the systems. RCBD factorial combinations of three population densities of mung bean (50%, 67%, and 100% with three-row arrangements (1S:1M, 2S:1M, and 3S:1M), with sole sorghum and sole Mung bean as check was used. Data on phenology, growth, yield, and yield-related parameters of the experimental crops were taken and analyzed using SAS soft wear. Land equivalent ratio, competitive ratio, area time equivalent ratio, monetary advantage index, and MRR analysis were used for estimating the economic feasibility of the intercropping. The highest grain yield of sorghum (3030.93 kg ha−1 and 3020.43 kg ha−1) was obtained within 2S:1M and 67% and 1S:1M and 50% of row arrangement and population density of mung bean, respectively. The highest yield of mung bean (626.37 kg ha−1) was in a 1S:1M row arrangement with 100% population density of mung bean. The highest LER (1.35), monetary advantage index (21493 ETB ha−1), net benefit (83309 ETB ha−1), and acceptable MRR% (125.34) were obtained in 1S:1M with 50% population density of mung bean. Intercropping sorghum in a 1:1 row arrangement within 50% population density of mung bean gives 12.54 and 63.65% yield advantages and up to 21.43% and 45.27% ETB ha−1 net benefit advantages respectively than planting sorghum and mung bean alone. Therefore, 1S:1M row arrangements with a population density of 50% (125,000 plants ha−1) are recommended for intercropping in the target area, based on its better compatibility, productivity, and economic benefit.
⓿ The trail was conducted to determine optimum plant population density of mung bean when intercrop with sorghum.
⓿ Heights seed yield of mung bean was obtained when 100% population density of mung bean intercrop with sorghum.
⓿ Maximum TLER (total land equivalent ratio) was obtained when 50% population density of mung bean intercrop with sorghum.
⓿ The highest monetary advantage index (21493 ETB ha−1) and net benefit (83309 ETB ha−1), were obtained in 1S:1M with 50% population density of mung bean.
Intercrop, LER, MAI, Mung bean, Population density, Sorghum
