MAIZE-SOYBEAN INTERCROPPING WITH ORGANIC FERTILIZATION AS A SOLUTION TO ENHANCE CROP AND SOIL PRODUCTIVITY

Abstract

An ever-increasing population and a decreasing cultivated land are challenging global food security. There is a massive difference between domestic production and demand. It is critical to improve the various index of land in order to secure food for future generations. Intercropping maize and soybeans can be a successful approach for addressing the gap between supply and demand. Due to low crop production per unit area, insufficient crop diversity, a lack of quality seeds and fertilizers, poor crop management, and the unfavorable effects of climate change. The experiment was conducted to understand the relationship of maize-soybean intercropping system with farm yard manure as a source of fertilizer. Our results showed that the farm yard manure has positively affected the overall soil fertility and also improved the crops production. Farm yard manure addition has given more fruitful results under maize-soybean intercropping. Maize-soybean intercropping with farm yard manure had a significant impact on growth and grain yield of both maize and soybean. The agronomic parameters plant height, shoot dry matter yield, grain yield and nitrogen uptake were recorded highest in the farm yard manure treatment under maize-soybean intercropping. Similarly, soil building attributes soil pH, total organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon and soil mineral nitrogen were positively affected by the interaction of farm yard manure and maize-soybean intercropping. Overall, we have concluded that maize-soybean intercropping system is most resilient cropping system with the implementation of farm yard manure to improve the crop productivity, soil health and to overcome the impact of climate change.