Performance of Spring Maize (Zea mays) in Spatial Association with Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and Urdbean (Vigna mungo) in Sub Tropical North India

Abstract

Cereal–legume intercropping is a common practice in most of the countries. Intercropping of maize with legume or oilseed may be helpful in increasing food production. This study evaluated intercropping of maize (Zea mays L.) with sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and urdbean (Vigna mungo L.) under different planting row ratios. Ten treatments consisting of three sole crops (maize, sunflower, and urdbean) and seven intercropping in replacement row ratios of 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 and one additive with urdbean in 1 + 1 ratio were laid out in randomized block design with three replications. An improvement in yield attributes of maize, viz., cob length, cob girth, and 100-grain weight, was observed due to intercropping with urdbean. The maize + urdbean in 1 + 1 additive spatial system resulted in significantly higher maize equivalent yield (5847 kg ha−1) and production efficiency (134.2 %) than sole crop of maize. This system was also significantly more remunerative with the highest gross return ($ 700.48 ha−1) and net return ($ 476.83 ha−1) that was more by $ 179.18 and 151.68 ha−1 than sole maize crop, respectively. Spatial arrangement of sunflower and urdbean with maize in replacement manner was not productive and profitable.