Legume Research

  • Chief EditorJ. S. Sandhu

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Legume Research, volume 44 issue 11 (november 2021) : 1343-1347

Evaluation of Maize (Zea mays L.) + Legume Intercropping System for Productivity, Profitability, Energy Budgeting and Soil Health in Hill Terraces of Eastern Himalayan Region

L.K. Baishya, Temjenna Jamir, N. Walling, D.J. Rajkhowa
1DAMU, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kiphire-798 611, ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Nagaland, India.
  • Submitted04-07-2019|

  • Accepted21-01-2020|

  • First Online 18-03-2020|

  • doi 10.18805/LR-4190

Cite article:- Baishya L.K., Jamir Temjenna, Walling N., Rajkhowa D.J. (2021). Evaluation of Maize (Zea mays L.) + Legume Intercropping System for Productivity, Profitability, Energy Budgeting and Soil Health in Hill Terraces of Eastern Himalayan Region. Legume Research. 44(11): 1343-1347. doi: 10.18805/LR-4190.
Three-year (2014-2016) field experiment was conducted for evaluation of maize (Zea mays L.) based intercropping system for productivity, profitability, energy budgeting and soil health in Eastern Himalayan region. The treatments consisted of four sole crop viz. maize, soybean, groundnut, cowpea and six intercropping treatments viz. maize + groundnut (1:1), maize + soybean (1:1), maize + cowpea (1:1) and  strip cropping of maize + groundnut (4:4), maize + soybean (4:4), maize + cowpea (4:4). The highest maize equivalent yield (10.2 t ha-1) was recorded in maize + groundnut cropping system (1:1) followed by maize + soybean (1:1) with 8.9 t ha-1. The highest SNBC (soil microbial biomass carbon) (66.2 mg g-1) and organic carbon (1.3%) were recorded with the cultivation of cowpea as a sole or intercrop. Strip cropping system, maize + cowpea (4:4) recorded the highest soil available N, P2O5 and K2O kg ha-1, highest energy efficiency (12.53) and energy productivity (955.01 g MJ-1). 

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