Profitability of Liming in Maize + Pigeon pea Intercropping System in Acid Soils

摘要

Field experiments were conducted to study the response of marketable lime on soil fertility changes and its impact on yield under maize + pigeon pea intercropping system in cultivators fields from 2001 to 2004. Response of lime in maize and pigeon peawas 25.89 and 34.41 percent, respectively, when grown as intercrops without application of fertilizers. In limed plots significantly higher pH was maintained, while it did not have effect on the soil organic matter content. Liming in maize + pigeon peacropping system resulted in build up of exchangeable. Ca, Mg and P in acidic soils and uptake of these nutrients by crops. Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.85 ( lime alone) and 2.37 ( lime with ree. fertilizer level) indicate that it was an essential management practice to increase the income of resource poor farmers of the state.