Effect of Intercropping of Legumes and Rates of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Yield and Yield Components of Maize (Zea mays L.) at Arba Minch

摘要

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 ( style="font-family:Verdana;"> style="font-family:Verdana;">Zea mays style="font-family:Verdana;"> style="font-family:Verdana;"> L.). The experiment consisted of 0, 23, 46, 69 and 92 kg style="font-family:Verdana;">· style="font-family:Verdana;">N style="font-family:Verdana;">· style="font-family:Verdana;">ha style="font-family:Verdana;">- style="font-family:Verdana;">1 style="font-family:Verdana;"> and sole maize, maize style="font-family:;" "=""> style="font-family:Verdana;">+ style="font-family:;" "=""> style="font-family:Verdana;">commom bean, maize style="font-family:;" "=""> style="font-family:Verdana;">+ style="font-family:;" "=""> style="font-family:Verdana;">common b style="font-family:Verdana;">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 style="font-family:;" "=""> style="font-family:Verdana;">mung bean variety. style="font-family:;" "=""> style="font-family:Verdana;">Maximum style="font-family:Verdana;">plant heights, dry matter style="font-family:;" "=""> style="font-family:Verdana;">and grain yield, style="font-family:Verdana;">were observed from sole cropped maize and maize + common bean, style="font-family:Verdana;">when applying 92 kg style="font-family:Verdana;">· style="font-family:Verdana;">N style="font-family:Verdana;">· style="font-family:Verdana;">ha style="font-family:Verdana;">- style="font-family:Verdana;">1 style="font-family:;" "=""> style="font-family:Verdana;">. Significantly higher total Land Equivalent Ratio of 2.2, Gross Monetary Value of 87,191 style="font-family:Verdana;">birr ha style="font-family:Verdana;">- style="font-family:Verdana;">1 style="font-family:Verdana;">, Monetary Advantage of style="font-family:Verdana;">47,068.2 Birr ha style="font-family:Verdana;">- style="font-family:Verdana;">1 style="font-family:Verdana;">, total productivity style="font-family:Verdana;"> (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 style="font-family:Verdana;">· style="font-family:Verdana;">N style="font-family:Verdana;">· style="font-family:Verdana;">ha style="font-family:Verdana;">- style="font-family:Verdana;">1 style="font-family:Verdana;"> (1080%). style="font-family:Verdana;">Thus, farmers should be advised to practice cropping of maize + common bean - mung with 69 kg style="font-family:Verdana;">· style="font-family:Verdana;">N style="font-family:Verdana;">· style="font-family:Verdana;">ha style="font-family:Verdana;">- style