Advantages of Maize-Legume Intercropping Systems

An experiment was conducted during Kharif seasons of 2009 and 2010 on sandy loam soil of West Bengal, India to evaluate the productivity and economic viability of maize + legume intercropping systems in additive as well as in replacement series with different row proportions. Maize (Zea mays L.) cv. “Vijay” (composite), green gram (Vigna radiata L.) cv. “Samrat”, black gram (Vigna mungo L.) cv. “Sarada”, soybean (Glycine max L. Merril) cv. “PK 327” and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cv. “JL 24”, were tested in monoculture as well as in intercropping situations with 1:1 (additive series) and 1:2 ratios (replacement series). The result indicated that intercropped legumes improved the yield components of maize and offered some bonus yield. The highest maize grain yield (2,916.28 kg/ha) and maize equivalent yield (4,831.45 kg/ ha) were recorded with maize + green gram (1:1) and maize + peanut (1:1), respectively. The values of all the competition functions were always greater than unity and maize + black gram (1:2) recorded the highest values of land equivalent ratio (1.433), area time equivalent ratio (1.374) and land equivalent coefficient (0.421). Maximum monetary advantage (Rs. 10,579.13) was found with maize + green gam (1:1). Maize + peanut (1:2) combination recorded the highest relative net return (2.01), net return (Rs. 28,523.08), benefit-cost ratio (2.76) ad per day return (Rs. 259.30).