Conservation and production ability of maize (Zea mays)- legume intercropping systems under varying dates of sowing

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) season of 1993 and 1994 on 2% sloping field at the Central Soil Conservation Research Farm, Selakui, Dehra Dun, on intercropping of maize (Zea mays L.) with cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], blackgram (Phaseolus mungo L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and their sole stands under early (10 June), normal (25 June) and late (10 July) dates of sowing. Intercropping of cowpea and blackgram with maize gave higher maize-equiva- lent yields (35.28 and 33.50 qlha respectively) than sole maize (28.00 qlha). Inter- cropping also resulted in higher maize-equivalent yields than respective sole legume stands by 125.86, 128.05 and 265.00% under maize + cowpea, maize + blackgram and maize + soybean respectively. Normal sowing gave higher maize-equivalent yield (30.10 qlha) than early sowing (22.66 qlha) and late sowing (18.45 qlha). Cowpea and blackgram in sole stands had higher canopy, followed by their intercropping with maize, and normal sowing developed canopy faster than early or late sowing. Maxi- mum net return (Rs 9,433lha) was obtained under normal time of sowing of maize + cowpea.