RESPONSE OF MAIZE-LEGUME INTERCROPPING SYSTEM TO DIFFERENT FERTILITY SOURCES UNDER RAINFED CONDITIONS

Abstract

Crop productivity of maize-legume intercropping system for yield and yield attributes were evaluated under different fertility treatments at National Agriculture Research Center (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan during 2007 and 2008 using complete randomized strip block design replicated thrice. Three cropping systems were kept in vertical blocks and five fertility treatments were placed in horizontal blocks. According to results of the study it was revealed that half poultry manure + half PK+ inoculation gave maximum maize grain yield of 4830.95 kg ha -1 and biological yield of 15330.29 kg ha -1 respectively, while cropping systems did not have an affect on grain and biological yields of maize to the significant extent. Likewise, maximum number of rows ear 1 , number of grains row -1 , grains ear -1 , 1000-grain weight and harvest index % were observed in the same treatment. Maize + mashbean intercropping accrued the highest net benefit of Rs. 93546.52 ha -1 , while minimum net benefit of Rs.23121.80 ha -1 was obtained in sole maize. On the basis of agronomic as well as economic performance of maize + mashbean intercropping, it was well evident that combined use of organic, biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers was proved to be more productive and remunerative and can be recommended for maize growers to elevate income.