Resource-use maximisation through legume intercropping with maize in the eastern Himalayan region of India

Abstract

Intercropping provides opportunity to harness available resources. Thus, maize intercropped with soybean or peanut (groundnut) was tested with 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 1 : 5 row proportions along with sole plantings of each crop to measure resource capture and resource-use efficiency. Results revealed that sole peanut had 60% higher maize-equivalent yield and 55% better production efficiency, followed by the 1 : 5 row proportion of maize–peanut, over sole maize. Intercropping increased land-use efficiency by 17–53% and land-equivalent coefficient by 0.21–0.56. The relative crowding coefficient was 39% higher with 1 : 2 maize–soybean, whereas the monetary advantage index was the highest (US$107) with the 1 : 5 maize–peanut. Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) uptakes by maize were 42.9% and 38.2%, respectively, higher with 1 : 5 maize–soybean, whereas phosphorus (P) uptake was 64% higher with 1 : 5 maize–peanut. However, the least amounts of N, P and K were mined overall with 1 : 5 of maize–soybean. Soil moisture content was improved by 24% and solar radiation interception by 37.8% with soybean alone over maize alone, and these parameters increased with higher row proportions of soybean. The energy parameters also improved with the 1 : 5 row proportions of maize–soybean or peanut intercropping. This study provides a basis for efficient resource use by maize–soybean (or peanut) intercropping system.