Productivity and competitive ability of rabi maize and legumes intercropping system

Abstract

The intercropping system involves two or more crops coexist for some period of their cycles and ensure multifaceted benefits. As maize is a widely spaced crop, it offers enough scope for adoption of intercropping and legumes are known as good companions in intercropping. Considering the facts, an experiment was carried out at Bagusala Farm of Centurion University of Technology and Management on intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) with legumes, namely, groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and green gram (Vigna radiata L.). Paired row maize was sown during first week of January 2020 and in between two pairs of maize rows, one, two and three rows of groundnut and green gram seeds were sown. The results revealed that the grain and straw yields of maize were not influenced significantly by intercropping system. However, total biomass yield was differed among the treatments and maize + groundnut (2: 3) produced maximum biomass yield and it was closely followed by maize + groundnut (2: 2) and maize + green gram (2: 3). The land equivalent ratio (LER) clearly showed advantages of intercropping and maximum LER was obtained with maize + groundnut (2: 1) and it was followed by maize + green gram (2: 3). But maximum area time equivalent ratio (ATER) was noted with maize + groundnut (2: 3). Aggressivity values indicated that maize was more aggressive compared to legumes. Maize equivalent yield (MEY) was maximum with maize + groundnut (2: 3) and it was followed by maize + groundnut (2: 2). The results suggest that intercropping of maize + groundnut either in 2: 2 or 2: 3 proportions can be adopted under south Odisha conditions for greater productivity than pure stand of maize.