Effect of Intercropping of Legumes and Rates of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Yield and Yield Components of Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) at Arba Minch — Oak Academic Publishing
Research ArticleOpen AccessGoogle Scholar indexed
Effect of Intercropping of Legumes and Rates of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Yield and Yield Components of Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) at Arba Minch
Department of Plant Science, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
,
Department of Plant Science, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
,
Department of Plant Science, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
,
Arba Minch Agricultural Research Center, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
1 Department of Plant Science, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
2 Department of Plant Science, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
3 Department of Plant Science, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
4 Arba Minch Agricultural Research Center, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
Intercropping of legumes and cereals, an old practice since ancient civilization, plays pivotal role to increase land use efficiency, improve income and food production per unit area and minimize the risks of crop failure for small scale farmers. Thus, field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of intercropping of legumes and rates of nitrogen fertilizer on yield and yield components of maize ( Zea mays L.). The experiment consisted of 0, 23, 46, 69 and 92 kg · N · ha - 1 and sole maize, maize + commom bean, maize + common b ean - mung bean cropping systems with Random Complete Block Design factorial experiment in three replications using maize variety, “BH-140”, common bean variety (Hawassadume) and mung bean variety. Maximum plant heights, dry matter and grain yield, were observed from sole cropped maize and maize + common bean, when applying 92 kg · N · ha - 1 . Significantly higher total Land Equivalent Ratio of 2.2, Gross Monetary Value of 87,191 birr ha - 1 , Monetary Advantage of 47,068.2 Birr ha - 1 , total productivity (80,568.49 birr) and net return (55,214.0 birr) were recorded from maize + common bean - mung bean. The, maximum marginal rate of return was obtained from maize + common bean - mung bean and applying 69 kg · N · ha - 1 (1080%). Thus, farmers should be advised to practice cropping of maize + common bean - mung with 69 kg · N · ha - 1 to get economical maize production.
KeywordsPhenologyCropping SystemGross Monetary ValueLand Equivalent Ratio
Adefris, T., Eshetu, A. and Solomon, A. (2012) Values That Foster Effectiveness of Partnership for Agricultural Innovation. Proceedings of the 3rd national Maize Workshop of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, 18-20 April 20011.
Grepperud, S. (1996) Population Pressure and Land Degradation: The Case of Ethiopia. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 30, 18-33. https://doi.org/10.1006/jeem.1996.0002
Pender, J. and Gebremedhin, B. (2006) Land Management, Crop Production, and Household Income in the Highlands of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: An Econometric Analysis. In: Pender, J., Place, F. and Ehui, S., Eds., Strategies for Sustainable Land Management in the East African Highlands, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington DC.
Osagie, A.U. and Eka, O.U. (1998) Nutritional Quality of Plant Foods: Post-Harvest Research Unit. University of Benin, Benin City, 62.
Shahidur, R., Chilot, Y., Befekadu, B. and Solomon, L. (2010) Maize Value Chain Potential in Ethiopia Pulse Export Promotion Agency, Constraints and Opportunities for Enhancing Exports. International Food Policy Research Institute, Addis Ababa, 44 p.
Central Statistical Agency (CSA) (2012) Agricultural Sample Survey: Report on Area and Production of Major Crops (Private Peasant Holdings, Meher Season). Central Statistical Agency, Addis Abeba.
Tesfa, B., Tolessa, D., Setegn, G., Tamado, T., Negash, G. and Tenaw, W. (2001) Development of Appropriate Cropping Systems for Various Maize Producing Regions of Ethiopia. 2nd National Workshop of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, 12-16 November 2001, 61-63.
Awal, M.A., Koshi, H. and Ikeda, T. (2006) Radiation Interception and Use by Maize/Peanut Intercrop Canopy. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology Journal, 139, 74-83.
Federer, W. (1999) Statistical Design and Analysis for Intercropping Experiments. Springer-Verlag, New York.
Thobatsi, T.J. (2009) Growth and Yield Response of Maize (Zea mays L.) and Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in Intercropping System. PhD Dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria.
Walelign, W. (2013) Sequential Intercropping of Common Bean and Mung Bean with Maize in Southern Ethiopia. Experimental Agriculture Journal, 50, 90-106.
Tenaw, W. (2014) Legume-Based Cropping for Sustainable Production, Economic Benefit and Reducing Climate Change Impacts in Southern Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural and Crop Research, 2, 11-21.
Barnes, P.B. and Addo-Kwafo, A. (1994) Under-Sowing Maize with Stylosanthes: Effects of Spacing, Time of Planting, and Fertilization on Maize Grain and Stylo Herbage Yields. African Crop Science Conference Proceedings, 1, 174-176.
Arba Minch Zurea Woereda Agricultural Office (2014) Reports on Description of Arba Minch Zurea Woereda and the Study Area.
National Meteorology Agency (2015) Reports on Rain Fall and Temperature of Ariba Minich Zuria Wereda. Arba Minch University, Arba Minch.
Willey, R.W. (1979) Intercropping, Its Importance and Research Needs. Competition and Yield Advantages. Field Crops Abstract Journal, 32, 2-5.
Neto, F.B. (1993) Effects of Spatial Arrangement and Density on Efficiency, Yield and Yield Components, Dry Matter Partitioning and Growth of an Annual Cotton/Cowpea/Maize Intercrop. PhD Dissertation, University of Arizona, Tucuson.
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) (1988) Farm Agronomic to Farmer’s Recommendation. An Economic Training Manual, D.F. Mexico.
SAS Institute (2002) SAS User’s Guide. Version 9.2. SAS Inst., Cary.
Moges, A. (2015) Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates and Plant Densities on Yield and Yield Related Traits of Maize (Zea mays) under Irrigation in Southern Tigray, Ethiopia. MSc Thesis, Haromaya University, Haromaya.
Rajcan, I. and Tollenaar, M. (1999) Source-Sink Ratio and Leaf Senescence in Maize: I. Dry Matter Accumulation and Partitioning during Grain Filling. Field Crops Research, 60, 245-253.
Kassahun, A., Tamado, T. and Nigussie, D. (2013) Influence of Maize-Bean Intercropping Pattern and Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on the Productivity of the Crops at Wolaita Sodo, Southern Ethiopia. M.Sc Thesis, Haromaya University, Haromaya.
Haseebur, R., Asghar, M.A., Waseem, A., Muhammad, T., Muhammad, A. and Muhammad, S.Z. (2010) Impact of Nitrogen Application on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) Grown alone and in Combination with Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.). American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Science, 7, 43-47.
Dawadi, D.R. and Sah, S.K. (2012) Growth and Yield of Hybrid Maize (Zea mays L.) in Relation to Planting Density and Nitrogen Levels during Winter Season in Nepal. Tropical Agricultural Research Journal, 23, 220-224.
Thakur, D.R., Prakash, O., Kharwara, P.C. and Bhalla, S.K. (1997) Effect of Nitrogen and Plant Spacing on Yield, Nitrogen Uptake and Economics in Baby Corn (Zea mays L.). Indian Journal of Agronomy, 43, 668-671. https://doi.org/10.4038/tar.v23i3.4659
Farzaneh, J., Safar, N., Mohammad, R. and Adel, A.B. (2015) Effect of Different Intercropping Patterns on Yield and Yield Components of Maize (Zea mays L.) and Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.). Biological Forum an International Journal, 7, 854-858.
Kidist, A. (2013) Growth, Productivity, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Maize (Zea mays) as Influenced by Rate and Time of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application in Haramaya District, Eastern Ethiopia. M.Sc Thesis, Haramaya University, Haromaya.
Lawrence, O. (2014) Effect of Management Practices under Cowpea-Maize Cropping Systems in South Africa: Maize Yield Case Study. Agricultural Research Council, 29, 282-285.
Zada, K. and Ahmed, S. (1988) Yield and Yield Components of Intercropped Maize and Soybean in Relation to Inorganic Nitrogen. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, 9, 473-477.
Habtamu, A. (2015) Response of Maize (Zea mays L.) to Different Levels of Nitrogen and Sulfur Fertilizers in Chilga District, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Basic Research Journal of Soil and Environmental Science, 3, 38-49.
Rashid, S. and Minot, N. (2010) Staple Food Markets in Africa Efficient. Spatial Price Analyses and Beyond.
Siame, J., Willey, R.W. and Morse, S. (1997) The Response of Maize/Phaseolus Intercropping to Applied Nitrogen on Oxisols in Northern Zambia. Field Crops Research Journal, 55, 73-81.
Kimani, K.K., Gathua, R., Delu, D.J.T. and Cadish, G. (1999) Effects of Maize Bean Intercropping, Phosphorus and Manure Additions on Maize Production in the Central Kenya Highlands. Proceedings of the 6th Eastern and South Africa Regional maize Conference, Addis Ababa, 21-25 September 1998, 293-295.
Tolera, A. (2003) Effects of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Farmyard Manure and Population of Climbing Bean on the Performance of Maize (Zea mays L.)/Climbing Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Intercropping System in Alfisols of Bako. M.Sc. Thesis, Haromaya University, Kewet Wereda.
Alemayehu, A., Tamado, T., Nigusie, D., Yigzaw, D., Kinde, T. and Wortmann, C.S. (2016) Maize-Common Bean/Lupine Intercrop Productivity and Profitability in Maize-Based Cropping System of Northwestern Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology, 9, 69-85.
Kena, K. (2015) Effect of Nitrogen Rates and Inter Row Spacing on Growth, Yield and Yield Components of Maize (Zea mays L.) at Nejo, Western Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Haromaya University, Haromaya.
Singh, D.P., Rana, N.S. and Singh, R.P. (2000) Growth and Yield of Winter Maize (Zea mays L.) as Influenced by Intercrops and Nitrogen Application. Indian Journal of Agronomy, 45, 515-519.
Cassman, K., Roberts, B. and Bryant, D. (2003) Dry Matter Production and Productivity of Maize as Influenced by Residual Fertilizer Nitrogen and Legume Green Manuring. Journal of Soil Science Society of America, 56, 823-830. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1992.03615995005600030025x
Zeljko, D., Snezana, O., Dusan, K., Milena, S., Nebojsa, M. and Zivota, J. (2013) Dependence of the Productivity of Maize and Soyabean Intercropping Systems on Hybrid Type and Plant Arrangement Pattern. Russian Journal of Genetics, 45, 138-142.
Chemeda, F. (2003) Relationship between Bacterial Blight Severity and Bean Yield Loss in Pure Stand and Bean-Maize Intercropping Systems. International Journal of pest Management, 49, 177-185. https://doi.org/10.1080/0967087021000049269
Getachew, B., Ketema, B. and Sharma, J.J. (2013) System Productivity of Forage Legumes Intercropped with Maize and Performance of the Component Crops in Kombolcha, Eastern Ethiopia. East African Journal of Sciences, 7, 99-108.
Solomon, K.W., Ketema, B. and Tamado, T. (2014) Productivity Evaluation of Maize-Soybean Intercropping System under Rain Fed Condition at Bench-Maji Zone, Ethiopia. Sky Journal of Agricultural Research, 3, 158-164.
Abebe, Z., Sharma, J.J., Dechasa, N. and Kanampiu, F. (2013) The Effect of Integrated Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer Rates on Performances of Soybean and Maize Component Crops of a Soybean/Maize Mixture at Bako, Western Ethiopia. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 8, 3921-3929.
Rusinamhodzi, L., Corbeels, M., Nyamangara, J. and Giller, K.E. (2012) Legume Intercropping Is an Attractive Option for Ecological Intensification That Reduces Climatic Risk for Smallholder Farmers in Central Mozambique. Field Crops Research Journal, 136, 12-22.
Workayehu, T. and Wortmann, C.S. (2011) Maize-Bean Intercrop Weed Suppression and Profitability in Southern Ethiopia. Agronomy Journal, 103, 1058-1063. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2010.0493
Waghmare, A.B. and Singh, S.P. (1982) Total Productivity and Net Returns of Different Sorghum-Legume Intercropping Systems under Varying N Levels. Indian Journal of Agronomy, 27, 423-428.