Productivity, profitability and soil biochemical properties in maize (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) intercropping as influenced by population proportion of component crops

S G TELKAR; A K SINGH

doi:10.56093/ijas.v88i3.78675

Authors

S G TELKAR M Sc student, College of Post-Graduate Studies, Central Agricultural University, Umiam, Meghalaya 793 103
A K SINGH Assistant Professor (Agronomy), College of Post-Graduate Studies, Central Agricultural University, Umiam, Meghalaya 793 103

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v88i3.78675

Keywords:

Land equivalent ratio, Maize soybean, Maize equivalent yield, Net return, Soil bio-chemical properties

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2016 at College of Post Graduate Studies (CAU-Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya to study the effect of population proportions of component crops on performance of maize (Zea mays L)+ soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] intercropping. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications comprised eight treatments (sole maize, sole soybean and six treatments on maize+soybean intercropping with different population proportion of component crops. Treatment 2:2 paired maize+soybean recorded maximum maize equivalent yield (3.91 t/ha) and land equivalent ratio (1.23) which were at par with intercropping treatments 1:1 Additive, 1:1 Replacement, 2:1 Replacement and 2:1 Additive but significantly higher over the sole maize and 2:1 Paired intercropped treatments. However, maximum net return (rupees 23643/ha)and B: C (1.68) ratio were recorded from 1:1 R maize+soybean which were at par with 2:1 Replacement and 2:2 Paired but significantly higher over sole maize and other intercropping treatments. Introduction of soybean as an intercrop in maize left relatively higher amount of soil available N, P, soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and dehydrogenase activity (DHA) in soil after crop harvest as compared to sole maize.Significantly higher soil available N was recorded from the treatment 1:1 Replacement while significantly higher soil available P, SMBC and DHA were recorded from the treatment 2:2 Paired over sole maize, respectively.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Addo-Quaye A A, Darkwa A A and Ocloo G K. 2011. Yield and productivity of component crops in a maize-soybean intercropping system as affected by time of planting and spatial arrangement. Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science 6(9): 50–7.

Anonymous. 2012. Agricultural Statistics at a Glance. Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, New Delhi.

Dolijanovic Z, Oljaca S, Kovacevic D, Simic M, Momirovic N and Jovanovic Z. 2013. Dependence of the productivity of maize and soybean intercropping systems on hybrid type and plant arrangement pattern. Genetika 45(1): 135–44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/GENSR1301135D

Jackson M L. 1973. Soil Chemical Analysis, p 485. Prentice Hall of India Pvt Ltd, New Delhi.

Kheroar S and Patra B C. 2014. Productivity of maize-legume intercropping systems under rainfed situation. African Journal of Agricultural Research 9(20): 1610–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR2013.7997

Kumar A, Rana K S, Rana D S, Bana R S, Choudhary A K and Pooniya V. 2015. Effect of nutrient and moisture-management practices on crop productivity, water-use efficiency and energy dynamics in rainfed maize (Zea mays)+soybean (Glycine max) intercropping system. Indian Journal of Agronomy 60(1): 152–6.

Mandal M K, Baneerjee M, Banerjee H, Alipatra A and Malik G C. 2014. Productivity of maize (Zea mays) based intercropping system during kharif season under red lateritic tract of West Bengal. International Journal of Life Science 9(1): 31–5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/sja.v12i1.21118

Mohta N K and De R. 1980. Intercropping maize and sorghum with soybeans. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 95: 117–22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859600029348

Padhi A K and Panigrahi R K. 2006. Effect of intercrop and crop geometry on productivity, economics, energetics and soil fertility status of maize (Zea mays) based intercropping systems. Indian Journal of Agronomy 51(3): 174–7.

Sanginga N and Woomer P L. 2009. Integrated soil fertility management in Africa: principles practices and develop-mental process. Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, Nairobi, p 263.

Undies U L, Uwah D F and Attoe E E. 2012. Effect of intercropping and crop arrangement on yield and productivity of late season maize-soybean mixtures in the humid environment of Southern Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Science 4(4): 37–50. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v4n4p37

Yogesh S, Halikatti S I, Hiremath S M, Potdar M P, Harlapur S I and Venkatesh H. 2014. Light use efficiency, productivity and profitability of maize and soybean intercropping as influenced by planting geometry and row proportion. Karnataka Journal of Agriculture Science 27(1): 1–4.