Abstract
Field experiments were conducted during the 2008 and 2009 cropping season at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to study the effect of drip fertigation on water use efficiency in intensive maize (Zea mays L.) based intercropping system. In 2008, drip fertigated maize at 150% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) recorded significantly higher grain yield of 7.3 t ha-1. Whereas in 2009, higher grain yields of 7.5 t ha-1was recorded under drip fertigation of 100% RDF with 50% P and K as water soluble fertilizer (WSF). Drip irrigation helps to save the water up to 43% compared to surface irrigation besides enhancing the water use efficiency. The highest net return (Rs 56858) and B:C ratio (3.24) was obtained under drip fertigation of 150% RDF + radish as intercrop combination. It is inferred that drip fertigation once in three days at 100% RDF with 50% P and K as water soluble fertilizer enhanced the productivity of maize-based intercropping system. Considering the high cost of water soluble fertilizers, drip fertigation of 150% RDF with radish as intercrop could be an alternative option to realize a reasonably good yield and income in maize-based intercropping system. Key words: Drip fertigation, intercropping, maize grain equivalent yield (MEY), water use efficiency (WUE).
Highlights
Water is the most important and critical input in man’s life especially in agriculture
Whereas in 2009, higher grain yields of 7.5 t ha-1 was recorded under drip fertigation of 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) with 50% P and K as water soluble fertilizer (WSF)
It is inferred that drip fertigation once in three days at 100% RDF with 50% P and K as water soluble fertilizer enhanced the productivity of maize-based intercropping system
Summary
Water is the most important and critical input in man’s life especially in agriculture. Improper management of water and nutrient has contributed extensively to the current water scarcity and pollution problems in many parts of the world, and is a serious challenge to future food security and environmental sustainability. Addressing these issues requires an integrated approach to soil-water-plantnutrient management at the plant-rooting zone. One of the important strategies to increase agricultural output is development of new high intensity cropping system including intercropping system. Maize or Indian corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in the global agricultural economy both as a food for man and feed for animal and the crop of. The present field research was initiated to assess the feasibility of drip fertigation in maize-based inter cropping system
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