Indian Journal of Agricultural Research
SCOPUSWeb of Science
  • Year: 2025
  • Volume: 59
  • Issue: 10

Influence of Planting Systems and Nutrient Management on Maize Growth, Yield and Light Interception in a Maize-soybean Intercropping System

  • Author:
  • Umesh Kumar Singh1,*, Santosh Korav1, Sourabh Kumar2, H.T. Sujatha3
  • Total Page Count: 6
  • Page Number: 1584 to 1589

1Department of Agronomy, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara-144 411, Punjab, India

2Department of Agronomy, VKS College of Agriculture (Bihar Agriculture University, Sabour), Dumraon-802 136, Bihar, India

3College of Agricultural Sciences, IruvakkiKeladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shimoga, Shivamogga-577 412, Karnataka, India

*Corresponding Author: Umesh Kumar Singh, Department of Agronomy, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara-144 411, Punjab, India, Email: 1999umesh8@gmail.com

Online Published on 03 February, 2026.

Abstract

This research aims to determine the effectiveness of varying planting patterns and nutrient application on maize biomass, yields and light capture in a maize-soybean intercrop production. Its goal is to enhance resource efficiency, increase yields, as well as facilitate sustainable management by analysing effects of planting geometry, nutrient supply and light encoded for the two crops.

The experiment was conducted during kharif season 2023, The treatment consists of four cropping systems in main plots (sole maize (M1), maize + soybean 1:1(M3), maize + soybean 1:2 (M4), maize + soybean 2:3 (M5)) and five nutrient sources in sub plot ((S1) control, (S2) 100% RDF, (S3)70% RDF with two foliar application of Nano NPK, (S4) 70% RDF with two foliar application of Homemade NPK, (S5) 70% RDF with two foliar application Plant extracts) with three replication under split plot design.

The experimental results revealed that, sole maize (M1) recorded significantly highest growth attributes i.e. no. of leaves (12.66 plant-1), LAI at maturity (3.85), specific leaf weight (6.12 g cm-2) and leaf area duration (140.91 days), compared to rest of cropping systems. Similarly, 70% RDF with two foliar application of plant extract produced biomass yield by 18% and 48.03% more light transmission ratio over the control. Hence, application of 70% RDF with two foliar sprays of plant extract enhanced crop growth and biomass of sole maize, it can be recommended to the farmer.

Keywords

Cropping pattern, Intercropping, Nutrient management, Specific leaf weight