Growth Attributes, Yield Attributes and Yield of Groundnut as Influenced by Intensification Through Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)- Sweet Corn (Zea mays var. saccarata) Intercropping System

Second-generation issues facing by Indian agriculture today are changing water tables, nutrient and disease imbalances, contamination of the environment and declining output from agriculture so there is a urgent need to enhance crop productivity to ensure food security.

In this field study, groundnut and sweet corn were used as a test material under ten treatments, including sole groundnut; sole sweet corn; groundnut + sweet corn in 1:1; 2:1 and 3:1 row ratio in both replacement and additive series; mix sowing of groundnut 80% + sweet corn 20% and groundnut + sweet corn in (2:1) with paired row (30-60-30 cm) at Regional Rice Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Vyara, Gujarat (India) during the summer season of the year 2020-21 and 2021-22. Data on growth attributes, yield attributes and yield of both the crops were recorded.

The results showed that significant reduction in growth, yield attributes and yield of groundnut were observed under mix/intercropping systems as compared to sole groundnut. Among the mix/ intercropping systems, intercropping of groundnut + sweet corn in (2:1) with paired row (30-60-30 cm) was found superior in terms of the pod yield as well as haulm yield, the productivity and biological efficiency of these systems in terms of groundnut pod equivalent yield (3221 kg/ha), land equivalent ratio (1.88) and area time equivalent ratio (1.75). Crop intensification through groundnut + sweet corn in (2:1) with paired row (30-60-30 cm) or groundnut + sweet corn in (3:1) in additive series could be adopted for obtaining higher groundnut pod equivalent yield.