EFFECT OF IRRIGATION TREATMENTS OF YIELD AND QUALITY ON SOYBEAN AND MAIZE GROWN UNDER DIFFERENT INTERCROPPING PATTERNS

Abstract

Two field trials were conducted in 2010 and 2011 to determine the effect of regimes irrigation on yield and its components for the maize-soybean intercropping patterns. The experimental was based on split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plots consisted of three different irrigation regimes,(I1 )irrigation during all groth stage as control treatment,(I2) withholding irrigation at the flowering stage and (I3) withholding irrigation at the pod stage. The sub-plots included three intercropping patterns( T1)=growing soybean on both sides of beds (140 cm) and planting one row of maize on the back of the bed (50cm between hills,1 plant) ,(T2)=growing soybean on both sides of beds and planting one row of maize on the back of the bed and leave another bed (50cm between hills, 2 plants) and( T3)= growing soybean on both sides of beds and planting one row of maize on back of the bed and leave another bed (25cm between hills, 2plants) Data showed that: 1- Whole irrigation gave the highest yield and yield components of maize/soybean intercropping. Whereas, withholding irrigation at the early flowering stage gave the lower yield and yield components. 2- Intercropping maize with soybean surpassed yield and yield components when used all beds, 50 cm between hills and left one plant /hill. 3- Interactions effect of irrigation x intercropping on maize indicated that, the treatments of I1 X T1 gave the highest values for all traits studied, whereas, the lowest value was recorded with I2 x T3. 4- Results showed that, Land Equivalent Ratio was the highest with the treatment of I1 x T1 (1.24, 1.16 and 1.20) in both seasons and the combined analysis, respectively, also, the same interaction recorded the highest net return (3303.07, 2750.35 and 3026.71) in both seasons and the combined analysis,respectively.