Productivity, competition behaviour and weed dynamics of various row proportions of maize (Zea mays)-legumes intercropping in Arunachal Pradesh

V K CHOUDHARY; ANIL DIXIT; P SURESH KUMAR

doi:10.56093/ijas.v84i11.44626

Authors

V K CHOUDHARY ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Arunachal Pradesh Centre, Basar 791 101
ANIL DIXIT National Institute of Biotic Stress Management, Raipur, Chhattisgarh 493 225
P SURESH KUMAR National Institute of Biotic Stress Management, Raipur, Chhattisgarh 493 225

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v84i11.44626

Keywords:

Competition indices, Intercropping, Maize-legume, Productivity, Weed dynamics

Abstract

Intercropping is the simultaneous cultivation of more than one crop species on the same piece of land and is regulated as the practical application of basic ecological principles such as diversity, competition and facilitation. Farmers of the region sow many crops in a piece of land, without following any row proportion geometrics and hence crop productivity is considerably low. A research was carried out to assess the feasibility of raising intercrops in association with maize (Zea mays L.) at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Basar during 2010 and 2011. The results indicated that biomass accumulation was the highest with 1:1 than in the 1:5 row proportions. Leaf area index of maize with intercrop was the highest with 1:5 row proportions. The maize grain yield was obtained relatively higher with solitary maize followed by 1:2 of maize-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Maize equivalent yield was 55.5% higher with 1:5 of maize-groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) over the solitary maize, consequently, production efficiency was remarkably improved by 48.9% with 1:5 of maize-groundnut. Land equivalent ratio, area time equivalent ratio and monetory advantage index were favourable for the intercropping implying their intrinsic advantage over solitary planting. Weed density and dry biomass were lower with 1:5 row proportions which resulted in higher weed smothering efficiency.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Agegnehu G, Ghizaw A and Sinebo W. 2006. Yield performance and land-use efficiency of barley and faba bean mixed cropping in Ethiopian high lands. European Journal of Agronomy 25: 202–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2006.05.002

Banik P, Midya A, Sarkar B K and Ghose S S. 2006. Wheat and chickpea intercropping systems in an additive series experiment: Advantages and weed smothering. European Journal of Agronomy 24: 325–32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2005.10.010

Chen C, Westcott M, Neill K, Wichman D and Knox M. 2004. Row configuration and nitrogen application for barley–pea intercropping in Montana. Agronomy Journal 96: 1730–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2004.1730

Dhima K V, Lithourgidis A A, Vasilakoglou I B and Dordas C A. 2007. Competition indices of common vetch and cereal intercrops in two seeding ratio. Field Crops Research 100: 249–56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2006.07.008

Esmaeil R C, Dabbagh A, Mohammadi N, Shakiba M R, Ghassemi- Golezani K, Aharizad S and Shekari F. 2010. Intercropping of maize (Zea mays L.) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) at different plant population densities. African Journal of Agricultural Research 6(7): 1 786–93.

Ghosh P K. 2004. Growth, yield, competition and economics of groundnut/cereal fodder intercropping system in the semi arid tropics of India. Field Crops Research 88: 227–37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2004.01.015

Haque M, Sharma R P and Prasad S. 2008. Weed control in maize based intercropping system under rainfed condition. ISWS Biennial Conference on Weed Management in Modern Agriculture, 27–28 February, 2008, Pusa, Bihar, p 118.

Hayder G S, Mumtaz M, Khan A and Khan S. 2003. Maize and Soybean intercropping under various levels of soybean seed rates. Asian Journal of Plant Science 2(3): 339–41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3923/ajps.2003.339.341

Hugar H Y and Palled Y B. 2008. Effect of intercropping vegetables on maize and associated weeds in maize-vegetable intercropping systems. Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences 21(2): 159–61.

Hussain N, Shamsi I H, Khan S, Akbar H and Shah W A. 2003. Effect of legume intercrops and nitrogen levels on the yield performance of maize. Asian Journal of Plant Science 2(2): 242–6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3923/ajps.2003.242.246

Mahapatra S C. 2011. Study of grass-legume intercropping system in terms of competition indices and monetary advantage index under acid lateritic soil of India. American Journal of Experimental Agriculture 1(1): 1–6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/AJEA/2011/001

Marer S B, Lingaraju B S and Shashidhara G B. 2007. Productivity and economics of maize and pigeonpea intercropping under rainfed condition in northern transitional zone of Karnataka. Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences 20(1): 1–3.

Pandey I B, Bharati V and Mishra S S. 2003. Effect of maize – based intercropping systems on maize yield and associated weeds under rainfed condition. Indian Journal of Agronomy 48: 30–3.

Pandita A K, Shah M H and Bali A S. 2000. Effect of row ratio in cereal-legume intercropping systems on productivity and competition functions under Kashmir conditions. Indian Journal of Agronomy 45: 58–63.

SAS. 2010. SAS procedure Guide. SAS Institute Incorporation. Carry, NC.

Tripathi A K, Anand Kumar, Somendra Nath and Yadav R A. 2008. Weed dynamics, productivity and net monetary returns as influenced by winter maize based intercropping systems in central UP. ISWS Biennial Conference on Weed Management in Modern Agriculture, 27–28 February, 2008, Pusa, Bihar, p 120.

Vestrager J M, Nielsen N E and Jensen H. 2008. Effects of cropping history and phosphorus on yield and nitrogen fixation in sole and intercropped cowpea-maize systems. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 80(1): 61–73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-007-9121-7