Maize–common bean intercropping to optimize maize-based crop production

Maize (Zea mays L.)–common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) intercropping is a recent practice in north-western Ethiopia and there is limited information on its productivity. A field experiment was conducted at South Achefer and Mecha in north-western Ethiopia during the 2012 and 2013 crop growing seaso...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of agricultural science 2017-09, Vol.155 (7), p.1124-1136
Main Authors: ALEMAYEHU, A., TAMADO, T., NIGUSSIE, D., YIGZAW, D., KINDE, T., WORTMANN, C. S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural practices
Agricultural production
Agronomy
Beans
Cereal crops
Corn
Crop production
Crops
Crops and Soils Research Papers
Economics
Equivalence
French beans
Growing season
Intercropping
Nitrogen
Optimization
Phosphorus
Planting
Productivity
Profitability
Seasons
Soil fertility
Sole cropping
Unity
Zea mays
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Summary:Maize (Zea mays L.)–common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) intercropping is a recent practice in north-western Ethiopia and there is limited information on its productivity. A field experiment was conducted at South Achefer and Mecha in north-western Ethiopia during the 2012 and 2013 crop growing seasons to determine combinations of intercrop planting arrangement (IPA) with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) rates for optimizing maize–common bean intercrop productivity and profitability. Treatments consisted of factorial combinations of two IPA (single row of common bean between maize rows and paired rows of common bean between paired rows of maize), two N rates (92 and 128 kg N/ha) and two P rates (20 and 40 kg P/ha). A sole crop maize with recommended fertilizer rate of 128/40 kg N/P/ha was used as a control treatment. The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results indicated that land equivalent ratio was more than unity, and the intercrop system was 20% more productive relative to the sole crop. Maize equivalent yields were highest for most of the intercrop treatments relative to mono-crop maize with yield advantage of 14% from single row IPA with 128/20 kg N/P/ha. Single row IPA with 128/20 kg N/P/ha and paired row IPA with 92/20 kg N/P/ha increased financial returns by 16 and 8% relative to sole crop maize, respectively. Smallholder maize-based cropping of north-western Ethiopia could be nutritionally, agronomically and financially improved through maize–common bean intercropping of single row IPA with appropriate nutrient management.
ISSN:0021-8596
1469-5146
DOI:10.1017/S0021859617000193