INTERCROPPED WITH GROUNDNUT ON GROWTH, YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF BOTH CROPS

Abstract

Two field trials were carried out at South Tahrir Research Station (Ali- Moubark). These trials were conducted in 2003 and 2004 to evaluate three planting dates of maize (the over story shade crop) intercropped with groundnut i.e, on 1st June, 10th June and 20th June, and four plant densities of maize intercropped with groundnut, i.e, maize was spaced at 50 and 100 cm apart leaving one or two plants/hill. Groundnut (the main crop) was grown on all rows. The data obtained indicate that ear length, ear diameter, number of rows/ear, number of kernels/row and the weight of 100grains increased with increasing maize spacing as well as with diminishing the number of plants remained per hill after thinning (to one plant/ hill). On other hand dense planting resulted in higher yield of maize whether by narrowing maize spacing or increasing the number of maize plants per hill after thinning. Yield and yield components of maize were significantly decreased by delaying planting date of maize up to the latest date. Yield /fed and yield components of groundnut were associated with maize density and distribution. The more the shade offered by maize the less the values of these traits were obtained. Highest values were obtained when maize was spaced at 100cm. and thinned to one plant/ hill. Increases in the values of yield and yield components of groundnut were associated with delaying the planting date of maize. Delaying the planting date of maize resulted in increases in the values of land equivalent ratio (LER) and the relative crowding coefficient. The treatment effect at any planting date of maize exerted very low competitive pressure when aggressivity was measured. With delaying seeding maize, competitive ratio (CR) diminished to the least. Spacing maize at 50cm. apart and leaving two plants / hill after thinning resulted in highest value of LER and relative crowding coefficient (RCC). Nor any maize density had any heavy competitive pressure on groundnut when aggressivity was measured