Effects of fertility levels, planting density and sowing methods on productivity and soil fertility status in rabi maize + toria intercropping
Fertility, density and sowing effects in rabi maize–toria intercropping
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21921/jas.v12i02.15240Keywords:
Grain Yield, Quality protein maize, Fertility levels, planting density, Soil fertilityAbstract
The experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2017-18 and 2018-19 at research farm of AAU, Jorhat, Assam to identify the most suitable fertility levels, row spacing and methods of sowing on growth, productivity and fertility status in quality protein maize + toria intercropping. The experiment was laid out in factorial RBD with treatment combination of three fertility levels (60:40:40 kg NPK/ha, 90:60:60 kg NPK/ha and 120:80:80 kg NPK/ha), three paired row spacing, 55cm x 25cm, 65cm x25cm,75cm x 25 cm with two methods of sowing (Normal sowing and paired row sowing). Results revealed that the pooled (2 years) yield attributes and yields were recorded with higher levels of fertility in maize and toria crop. Maximum maize equivalent yield was also recorded with higher fertility levels. Similarly paired row intercropping of 65 cm x 25cm recorded significantly highest yield attributing characters, grain of quality protein maize and toria along with significantly higher maize equivalent yield. However in MEY, the intermediate paired row spacing of 65 cm x 25 cm remained statistically at par with the closure spacing of 55 cm x 25 cm. Paired row planting of maize recorded significantly higher maize equivalent yield than that of the normal row planting of the study. Soil fertility status of NPK was significantly higher with highest fertility levels after two cropping cycles. The study suggests that successful intercropping of rabi maize with toria in paired row spacing of 65 cm x 25 cm with 2:2 row ratio along with highest fertility levels ie., 120:80:80 kg NPK/ha is recommended for the Assam.
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