Enhancing crop productivity, water and nitrogen use efficiency of kharif maize through planting methods, mungbean intercropping and nitrogen management practices

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during kharif season of 2020 at research farm of Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar to find out the effect of planting methods, mung intercropping and nitrogen management on system productivity, water and nitrogen use efficiency of kharif maize. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four planting methods viz., M₁- Flat sown maize, M₂- Bed planting maize, M₃- Flat sown maize + mungbean, M₄- Bed planting maize + mungbean in main plot and four nitrogen management practices viz., N₁- 120:50:40:: N:P₂O₅:K₂O kg ha^-1, N₂- 100:50:40:: N:P₂O₅:K₂O kg ha^-1, N₃-80:50:40:: N:P₂O₅:K₂O kg ha^-1, N₄- 0:50:40:: N:P₂O₅:K₂O kg ha^-1 (control plot) in sub-plot replicated thrice. The result showed that the highest maize grain yield (3.17 t ha^-1), stover yield (4.5 t ha^-1), system productivity (5.05 t ha^-1), WUE (11.74 kg ha^-1mm), water productivity (133.10 ₹ m^-3), NUE (5.86 kg kg^-1), PFP (25.33 kg kg^-1) and NHI (0.79 kg kg^-1) was recorded under bed planting maize + mungbean while among N management options the maximum grain yield of maize (3.67 t ha^-1), stover yield (4.43 t ha^-1), system productivity (4.68 t ha^-1), WUE (10.82 kg ha^-1 mm), water productivity (117.70 ₹ m^-3), NUE (7.98 kg kg^-1) and NHI (0.80 kg kg^-1) were obtained with 120 N kg ha^-1.