Screening Common Bean Varieties Compatibility to Intercropping with Maize at Jejebicho Research Station in Sankura Wereda Silte Zone of Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Maize is among the most important cereal crops in Ethiopia. Intercropping results in high overall system productivity on a given piece of land due to efficient use of the available plant growth resources. Field experiment was conducted to were to evaluate and select the cropping systems and best performing common bean varieties in intercropping with maize at jejebicho research station for higher productivity and profitability in southern parts of Ethiopia, under Wondo genet Agricultural Research Center at Sankura wereda, Jejebicho research station in 2019/20 cropping season. Three varieties of common bean (Deme, KAT-B1 and Awash-2) and were intercropped with two maize varieties (Limu and Shone). The three common bean varieties and two maize varieties were included as a sole for comparison. Randomized complete block design in factorial with three replications was used. Aboveground biomass, days to tasseling, hundred kernel weight, grain yield and harvest index of maize were significantly affected by varieties of common bean, cropping system was also significantly affected leaf area, leaf index, days to tasseling, days to physiological maturity and grain yield of maize but their interaction effect were non significantly affected. Days to tasseling of maize were delayed (81.50 days) and hastened (74.23 days) by variety Awash-2 and Deme, respectively as compared to KAT-B1. The wider leaf area (910.20cm²) was measured from intercropped maize than sole and the larger leaf area index (3.79) was also recorded from intercropped maize than sole one. Days to tasseling of maize were delayed (80.80 days) at sole cropped of maize. The longer days to physiological maturity (143.84 days) of maize was taken from sole cropping of maize. The highest grain yield (7.60 ton/ha) of maize was taken from Shone intercropped with Awash-2 as compared to varieties. In cropping system, the maximum grain yield (7.12 ton/ha) of maize was obtained from intercropped of it. Plant height, branch number per plant, number of seed per pod, number of pod per plant, days to physiological maturity, aboveground biomass, hundred kernel weight, grain yield and harvest index of common bean. The longest plant (132.13cm) was measured from Deme intercropped with Limu. The highest (5.17) number of branches was counted at Deme intercropped with Limu. The highest number of pods per plant and number of seed per pod (10.92 and 4.63) was counted at Deme intercropped with Limu and Limu with Awash-2 respectively. The highest grain yield (22.38 ton/ha) was obtained when Shone intercropped with Deme. The highest partial land equivalent ratio (LER) of maize and common bean non significantly affected by varieties of both. Monitory advantage index was also non significantly affected. However, the highest value of monetary advantage index (105,359 ETB ha^-1) was obtained at Shone intercropped with Deme. Therefore, any of the two (Limu or Shone) maize varieties could be recommended for intercropping with Deme of common bean variety.