Abstract
The effects of two tillage methods (zero tillage and conventional tillage), two residue managements (residue kept and residue removed) and two levels of cropping system (maize + soybean and sole maize) were studied over 3 years (2015-2017) at Dailekh district of Nepal. Arun-2 and Puja were the varieties of maize and soybean used respectively, followed by winter wheat. The results revealed that the maize + soybean system had significantly higher plant population and ear population (34.83 thousands ha-1 and 34.35 thousands ha-1, respectively), grains per row (37.1), ear length (16.6 cm) and 20.5% higher grain yield as compared to sole maize. The highest maize equivalent yield (7.92 t ha-1) was recorded in maize + soybean as compared to the lower grain yield equivalent (7.06 t ha-1) in sole maize. Zero tillage accounted relatively higher benefits (high net income and B:C ratio) as compared to conventional tillage. The residue kept plot resulted significantly higher B:C ratio (2.41) than the residue removed (2.11) and the maize + soybean recorded 82.5% greater B:C ratio compared to sole maize. Net annual income was significantly higher in zero tillage, residue kept and maize + soybean system (NRs. 223072.00, 222958.00 and 269016.00 ha-1 respectively). Such combinations are recommended for Dailekh district of Nepal to have profitable crop productivity.
 SAARC J. Agri., 17(1): 49-63 (2019)
Highlights
Maize is one of the major food crops and main source of livelihood and income in Nepal, which contributes about 6.54% of the gross agricultural domestic product (AGDP) and 3.15% of the gross domestic product (GDP) (MoAD, 2013)
The effect of intercropping on plant and ear height of maize was noticed with significant effect (Table 1)
The total cost of tillage operation was found significantly cheaper in case of zero tillage, with higher net income and greater benefit cost ratio
Summary
Maize is one of the major food crops and main source of livelihood and income in Nepal, which contributes about 6.54% of the gross agricultural domestic product (AGDP) and 3.15% of the gross domestic product (GDP) (MoAD, 2013). Maize is extensively grown in the mid-hills of Nepal and it was usually cultivated as sole crop. In Nepal, after rice, maize occupies the second place in terms of cultivated area (891583 ha) and production (2231517 ton) (MoAD, 2016) which plays an important role in national food security. Conservation agriculture (CA) which is characterized by minimum tillage with previous crop residue retention can be the most suitable approach to enhance prevailing agricultural system of mid-hills of Nepal
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