Q. Naher
On- Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh
S. M. R. Karim
Agronomy Division, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh
M. Begum
Agronomy Division, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh
M. A. Hossain
On- Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh
Maize, Legume, Intercropping, Productivity, Competitive ability
On-farm research field of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh
Farming System
Intercropping, Maize, Legumes
The experiment was conducted at the On-farm research field of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur during the Kharif season of 2012. The experiment site was located at Chhiata Series under Agro-Ecological Zone-28. Before opening the land, the soil samples were taken from the spots of the experimental area and analyzed from the Soil Science Division, BARI. The soil analysis showed that the soil of the experimental field was loam in texture and low in organic matter (1.16%). The soil pH is 7.2 and contained very low amount of total nitrogen (0.061%), phosphorus (3 mg/g), sulphur (0.6 mg/g), zinc (3.54 mg/g), boron (0.44 mg/g) and potassium (0.13 meq./100g soil). During the period of experimentation, the maximum and minimum temperature ranged from 27.1°C to 35.5°C and 21.4°C to 25.4°C, respectively. Crops received a total of 201.4 and 240.1 mm rainfall distributed during Marchto July in 2012. There were 17 treatments viz., T1= Sole maize (no weeding), T2= Maize + Mungbean (no weeding), T3= Maize + Mungbean (weeding at 20 DAE), T4= Maize + Mungbean (weeding at 40 DAE), T5= Maize + Mungbean (weeding at 20 and 40 DAE), T6= Maize + Soybean (no weeding), T7= Maize + Soybean (weeding at 20 DAE), T8= Maize + Soybean (weeding at 40 DAE), T9= Maize + Soybean (weeding at 20 and 40 DAE), T10= Maize + Blackgram (no weeding), T11= Maize + Blackgram (weeding at 20 DAE), T12= Maize + Blackgram (weeding at 40 DAE), T13= Maize soybean variety BARI Soybean-5 were used as test crops. Fertilizer was applied for maize at the rate of 250-50-100-44-5-2 kg of N, P, K, S, Zn and B ha-1, respectively, from urea, triple superphosphate, muriate of potash, gypsum, zinc sulphate and boric acid, respectively. Half an amount of N and a full dose of other fertilizers were incorporated into the soil at the time of final land preparation. The remaining urea was top-dressed in two equal installments at 8-10 leaf stage (30-35 DAS) and at tasseling stage (50-60 DAS) followed by irrigation. The fertilizer doses for grain legumes were 21-17-18 and 23-18-18 kg of N, P, K ha-1, respectively from Urea, TSP, MoP, respectively. In the case of the sole cropping of legumes, the entire fertilizers were applied. Sowing of both maize and legumes was done on 15 March 2012. Weed management was done as per treatment specifications. Mature mungbean and black gram were harvested at 65 DAE while soybean was harvested at 100 DAE. Maize was harvested at 120 DAE. Maize equivalent yield was computed using the formula of Bandyopadhaya (1984). Maize equivalent yield= Yim + (Yil x Pl)/Pm. Where, Yil = Yield of intercrop legume (t ha-1 ). Yim = Yield of intercrop maize (t ha-1 ). Pm = Selling price of maize. Pl = Selling price of legume Weed control efficiency (WCE) was calculated using the following formula (Curz et al., 1986). Competitive ratio (CR) (Willey and Rao, 1980) Competitive ratio of maize: (CRm) :{(Yim/Ysm)/Yil/Ysl)} x (Zl/Zm) Competitive ratio of Legume: (CRL) : {(Yil/Ysl)/(Yim/Ysm)} x (Zm/Zl) Where, Ysm = Yield of sole maize Ysl = Yield of sole legume Yim = Yield of intercrop maize Yil = Yield of intercrop legume ZI = Proportion of legume in intercrop Zm = Proportion of maize in intercrop. WCE = (DWC - DWT) / (DWC) x 100. DWC = Dry weight of weeds in the weedy check. DWT = Dry weight of weeds in the weeding treatment. The collected data were statistically analyzed by using the MSTAT programme and the means were adjudged by using LSD. Economic analysis was also done.
Bangladesh Agron. J. 2020, 23(2): 1-12
Journal