Productivity of Maize (Zea mays L.) + Clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] Intercropping System Under Varying Row Arrangements and Weed Management Practices
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Date
2004
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Publisher
MPUAT, Udaipur
Abstract
A field experiment entitled “Productivity of Maize (Zea mays L.) + Clusterbean
[Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] Intercropping System Under Varying Row
Arrangements and Weed Management Practices” was conducted during Kharif 2003 at
the Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur.
The objectives were to assess productivity of maize + clusterbean intercropping system under
various row orientation thereby to workout most appropriate one under prevailing climatic
conditions and to evolve efficient and economically viable weed management practice for this
system. The experiment consisted 18 treatment combinations comprising of six intercropping
and row arrangements [maize sole (60cm x 25cm), clusterbean sole (30cm x 10cm), maize
(75cm x 20cm) + clusterbean (1:2), maize (60cm x 25cm) + clusterbean (1:1), maize (50cm x
30cm) + clusterbean (1:1) maize (30cm x 25cm) + clusterbean (2:2)] and three weed
management practices [Hand weeding (20 and 40 DAS), pendimethalin 0.75 kg ha-1 (PE),
pendimethalin 0.75 kg ha-1 (PE) + hoeing (35 DAS)]. These treatments were replicated thrice
in randomized block design.
The results revealed that maize/clusterbean plants attained significantly higher height
at harvest under intercropping systems compared to under sole system of respective crops. Whereas, the overall growth of both the crops estimated in terms of DMA plant-1 at
successive stages, CGR (between 25-50 and 50-75 DAS) were significantly improved under
sole system over that under intercropping system through various row orientation. At the
same time, both base (maize) and component (clusterbean) plants showed enhancement in
concentration and uptake of nutrients (N, P, K) in plant parts (grains/seed and stover/haulm)
under sole crop. These improvements under sole system manifested in improvement in yield
attributes consequently significantly highest maize yields (37.1, 71.4 and 108.5 q ha-1 grain,
stover and biological, respectively) and clusterbean yields (10.2, 24.2 and 34.4 q ha-1 seed
haulm and biological, respectively) were produced under sole system. Conversely,
significantly highest total uptake to nutrient (N, P, K) and dry matter accumulation by the
system were recorded with the adoption of maize (75cm x 20cm) + clusterbean (1:2)
intercropping system. This system also showed greater efficiency in producing higher maize
equivalent yield (44.8 q ha-1) with higher LER (1.48), LEC (0.572), net monetary returns (Rs.
24236 ha-1) and B:C ratio (Rs. 253) in comparison to other systems. Corresponding increases
in overall productivity and profitability under maize (75cm x 20cm) + clusterbean (1:2)
system over sole maize was to the magnitude of 7.7 q ha-1 and Rs. 4961 ha-1, respectively. The
intercropping system namely maize (30cm x 25cm) + clusterbean (2:2) system was found
next best system with grain in productivity 6.53 q ha-1 and profitability by Rs. 3807 ha-1 over sole maize (37.08 q ha-1, Rs. 19275 ha-1).
The integrated weed management system, pre-emergence pendimethalin 0.75kg ha-1
+ one hoeing (35 DAS) significantly minimized weed competition and improved growth yield
attributes, concentration of nutrients and their uptake by plant parts and total by the crop.
These improvements ultimately led to realized higher grain yield of maize (35.62 q ha-1) and
clusterbean (6.53 q ha-1) crops, consequently led to increase in overall productivity of system
in terms of maize equivalent yield by 5.44 and 9.80 per cent over pendimethalin alone + hand
weeding twice, respectively. The corresponding gains in profitability were Rs. 1340 and 2749
ha-1.
The combined effect of intercropping and weed management practices indicated that
adoption of maize (75cm x 20cm) + clusterbean (1:2) intercropping system and preemergence
application of pendimethalin followed by one hoeing 35 DAS produced highest
maize equivalent yield (46.12 q ha-1), net returns (Rs. 25388 ha-1) and B:C ratio (Rs. 2.66
rupee-1).
Description
Productivity of Maize (Zea mays L.) + Clusterbean
[Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] Intercropping
System Under Varying Row Arrangements and
Weed Management Practices
Keywords
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Citation
Jadon and Chaplot, 2004