Section 3 (Crop Management)

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Proceedings of the 8 th Asian Regional Maize Workshop, Bangkok, Thailand: August 5-8, 2002 Evaluation of Maize Based Intercropping in Mid and Far Western Mid Hills Under Bariland Condition B. B. Pokharel, K. B. Koirala and D. B. Gurung Agriculture Research Station, Dailekh, Bheri Zone, Nepal. Abstract Maize is the most important food crop in mid hills of mid and far western Nepal. These regions fall under low rainfall zones where maize is grown under rain-fed environment. Most of the farmers in these regions do not apply chemical fertilizer for maize. Lower application of chemical fertilizer and premonsoon soil erosion lead to declining soil fertility. One of the potential areas in managing soil fertility decline is to identify appropriate intercropping and their combinations that fit for intercropping with maize under rain-fed bariland condition of mid hills in mid and far western Nepal. An experiment on maize-based inter-cropping was conducted at Agriculture Research Station (ARS), Dailekh during summer 2000 and 2001. Five leguminous crop viz. Soybean, black gram, groundnut, cowpea and bean were intercropped with improved and local maize varieties. Each maize variety was grown as a sole to compare between intercropping and sole-cropping. The experiment was laid out on factorial RCB-design with three replications. Grain yield of maize did not differ significantly while intercropped with different legumes. Maize variety showed a significant difference in yield when intercropped with different legumes (improved maize 4986-kg/ha and local maize 4086-kg/ha). The highest cost-benefit ratio was found with improved maize and soybean intercropping (2.24) followed by improved maize and black gram (2.11). All combinations of intercropping gave more economic return than sole maize. Introduction For the first time in our history of agriculture we are running short of productive land to expand our agriculture. When farmland is limited, increasing productivity per unit land is the only feasible options for producing adequate food and fiber for the growing population. The productivity of agriculture, as a whole, has increased following the introduction of green revolution due to extension of fertilizer responsive high yielding varieties increased use of fertilizer and availability of irrigation water. The sustainability of such high energy demanding system is being questioned in the country like ours where input application is minimal and infrastructure is at rudimentary stage. Nutrient management is the major factor for sustainable agriculture. One thing is very clear that to harvest good yield from the modern agriculture our soils must be supplied with adequate plant nutrients either from inorganic, organic or both source. Every harvest takes away large amounts of nutrients from the soil causing nutrient depletion. Every tone of grain produced, 60-80kg per ha or some times even more than 100 kg/ha nutrient is taken up from the soil. Use of compost has been declined as a result of declining forest resources. To ensure the food security in the future, the productivity of maize-wheat system as a whole must be increased in these food deficit regions. Maize is the most important food crop in mid hills of mid and far western Nepal. These regions fall under low rainfall zones where maize is grown under rain-fed environment. Most of the farmers in these regions do not apply chemical fertilizer for maize. Lower application of chemical fertilizer and premonsoon soil erosion lead to declining soil fertility. One of the potential areas in managing soil fertility decline is to identify appropriate intercropping and their combinations that fits for intercropping with maize under rain-fed bariland condition of mid hills in mid and far western Nepal. With these - 270 -
Pokharel et al. backgrounds, we have conducted the experiment on maize based intercropping with different legumes. The objective of the study was to identify the legume crop that fits best in the maize legume intercropping system. Materials and Methods The experiment on maize based intercropping was conducted at Agriculture Research Station (ARS) Dailekh during summer 2000 and 2001. Five leguminous crop viz. soybean, black gram, groundnut, cowpea and beans were intercropped with improved and local maize varieties. Each maize variety was grown as a sole to compare the performance of intercropping and sole cropping. Experiment was laid out on factorial RCB design with three replications each year. A plot size of 4.5 x 3 m 2 was maintained and six rows of maize and five rows of legumes were planted in a plot. The plot was fertilized with 80:60:40 kg NPK and 5 tons of farmyard manure/ha were applied. Planting was done on 22 nd and 24 th of May 2000 and 2001, respectively. Data were analyzed by using 2-factors experiment analysis of MSTAT. Results and Discussion Grain yield of maize did not differ significantly while intercropped with different legumes. Maize variety that is improved and local showed a significant difference in yield when intercropped with different legumes. Average grain yield of improved maize, manakamana-1, was 4986 kg/ha and local maize, Dailekh local, was 4086 kg/ha respectively. The maximum gross economic return was obtained from the combinations between improved maize and soybean followed by improved maize and black gram. The highest cost benefit ratio was found with improved maize and soybean intercropping (2.24) followed by improved maize and black gram (2.11). All combinations of intercropping gave more economic return than sole maize. A detail of research results is given in Table-1. - 271 -
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