Cropping system involves the cultivation of crops in a specific area, interacting with resources and time, while the intercropping system refers to the simultaneous growth of two or more crops in the same land, according to Seran and Brintha (2010) and Maitra (2019). Intercropping commonly adopted on small farms with limited resources and it has been found to improve yields with greater stability among different crop combinations. Additionally, the intercropping system characterized by reduced requirement for inputs such as fertilizers and plant protection chemicals that led to production of healthy, safe and high-quality food within an ecologically sustainable way. On-farm biodiversity is also enhanced through the diversification of crops via mixed cropping, intercropping and agroforestry systems, which results in achieving higher productivity and optimal resource utilization.
       
Maize (Zea mays L.), commonly referred to as corn, is a highly adaptable crop that thrives in various agro-climatic conditions. Worldwide, maize is often called the queen of cereals due to its superior genetic yield potential compared to other cereals. Maize is grown globally, spanning from 58°N latitude to 40°S latitude. More than 200 million hectares are dedicated to its cultivation, resulting in over 1.2 billion tonnes produced each year, making it a crucial component of global food, feed and industrial systems (FAO, 2022). In India, maize is cultivated over approximately 9.9 million hectares, yielding 33.7 million tonnes with an average productivity rate of 3.4 t/ha during the Kharif and Rabi seasons (DAC and FW, 2022-2023). In Manipur, maize is the second cereal crop cultivated after rice. Maize is grown in all the hill and valley districts of Manipur. The area under cultivation was more in the hill region than in the valley, with a total area of 1.66 thousand hectares with average yield of 29.75q/ha (Economic Survey of Manipur, 2024-25). Despite these benefits, monoculture maize often has a number of issues, including reduce soil fertility, inefficient use of land and resources, an increase in weed infestation and increased susceptibility to pests and diseases, especially in intensive cultivation systems (Reddy and Reddy, 2017). Intercropping is preferred over monoculture because it increases productivity by making better use of resources such as water, nutrients and sun energy (Singh et al., 2023).  Diverse and sustainable farming methods must be implemented in order to get through these limitations and sustain soil health and productivity over time. In order to enhance land productivity and ecosystem services, intercropping-the simultaneous cultivation of two or more crops in the same field-has been acknowledged as a sustainable approach. In addition to improving soil microbial diversity and naturally suppressing pests and diseases, it encourages effective use of light, water and nutrients as well as weed management (Berdjour et al., 2020). Maize offers an excellent foundation for intercropping with short-duration, fast-growing crops that can effectively occupy inter-row gaps without much competition because of its wide growth habit and relatively longer duration. Legumes enhance soil structure, augment maize’s nutritional needs and increase soil nitrogen through symbiotic nitrogen fixation (Dhima et al., 2007). Legumes are soil-amendment crops with significant soil-health benefits that must be included in farming systems (Dhakal et al., 2016).
       
The primary cropping pattern in the Chandel district of Manipur is intercropping systems based on rice and maize, which have proven beneficial due to differences in crop growth and nutritional requirements. Intercropping appears to be one of possibilities to enhance food grain production, intensify land usage and meet the diverse needs of farming communities from limited areas due to high population pressure and little opportunity of increasing cultivated land. Intercropping offers to farmers the opportunity to engage nature’s principles of diversity at their farm (Ghosh, 2004). One primary crop and one or more supplementary crops are typically used in intercropping, with the primary crop being crucial for food production or economic reasons. According to Seran and Brintha (2010), smallholder farmers find this method desirable as a way to increase labor utilization and productivity per unit area of available land through intensification of land use. For instance, as legumes can fix nitrogen, maize-legume intercropping systems are well known for improving nitrogen utilization efficiency (Li et al., 2024). In a similar way, intercropping deep-rooted crops with maize can increase soil structure and water retention. It can also diversify farm outputs, boost profits and stabilize farmers’ incomes (Nasar et al., 2023). Therefore, the proper intercrops and the spatial arrangement of the primary and intercrop should be taken into account while planning legume intercropping. In light of this, the goal of the current study was to determine which component crop perform best in a maize intercropping system.

A three-years study was carried out in several farmers’ fields during 2023 to 2025. Experimental soils in the locations were clay loam in texture, with fertility ratings ranges from medium to low. Three maize-based farming systems were used in the treatments: maize (HQPM-5) as a sole crop, maize (HQPM-5) intercrop with groundnut (ICGS-76), maize (HQPM-5) intercrop with ricebean (Local) and maize (HQPM-5) intercrop with soybean (DSb-19). Both the primary crop and the intercrops were grown using their full agronomic techniques. As a basal dose, full phosphorus (60 kg/ha), potassium (40 kg/ha) and one-third of nitrogen (40 kg/ha) were applied. In order to prevent nitrogen fertilization in the legume intercrops, urea was applied in pair rows of maize. The remaining nitrogen (80 kg/ha) was added in two equal splits, the first knee-high stage and second during tasselling. The sources of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were urea, SSP and MOP, respectively. The intercrop yields were converted to maize equivalent yield (MEY) based on local market values in order to compare the treatments.
       
The MEY of the systems were calculated using the following formula:

      
Where,
Yi = Yield of different crops.
Pi = Price of respective crops.
P (p) = Price of maize.
       
Maize equivalent yield was recorded (MEY) (Lal and Ray, 1976).

Yield attributes
 
The yield parameters (Table 1 and 2) of maize, such as cob length, number of cobs and grain weight, vary among different intercropping systems. The performance of sole maize was higher during the first year of experimentation, but during subsequent years of cropping recorded maize under intercrops viz maize+Ricebean performed better in terms of cob length and grain weight/cobs as compared to other intercropping systems. This could be because of legume interaction, which improves soil fertility and productivity of subsequent crops. Similar findings were also reported by Lal (2017) and Babu et al., (2020). The performances of component crops (Table 3 and 4) like groundnut, ricebean and soybean on yield attributes also showed higher in the subsequent years of experimentations, which might be due to nutrient cycling advantages. Similar findings were also reported by Kritika et al., (2026).








 
Yield
 
Differences in yield of maize crop (Table 5) between sole crop and intercrop were mainly due to higher plant population of maize. Intercrops influence maize grain yield differently. Maximum grain yield of maize under different intercrops recorded in maize + ricebean intercrop with 25.85 q/ha, 28.60 q/ha and 30.12 q/ha during cropping period which recorded higher than maize + groundnut and maize + soybean intercrop. The intercropping combinations have lower grain yield than sole cropping. Similar results were also reported by Bhatnagar et al., (2012).


 
Maize equivalent yield, system profitability and economics
 
Among different intercropping system, maize + groundnut recorded highest maize equivalent yield (Table 6) of 58.60 q/ha, 64.55 q/ha and 64.15 q/ha. This could be because groundnuts have a stronger symbiotic effect on maize. Maize + groundnut intercrop obtained higher system profitability (Table 6) of 343.36 ₹/ha/ha, 399.53 ₹/ha/day and 409.26 ₹/ha/day, respectively, than all other cropping systems. Similar finding was also reported by Baishya et al., (2021). Choudhary and Choudhary (2016) also found comparable results.


 
Economic studies
 
Economic studies such as cost of cultivation, gross returns, net returns and benefit cost ratio a have been presented in Table 7 and 8. The intercropping system with maize + groundnut showed the highest net income of ₹. 125325, Rs. 145830 and ₹. 149380 during 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively, with the highest benefit:cost ratios of 3.48:1, 3.82:1 and 3.84:1, respectively. This could be because of increased production, higher selling price of the groundnut pods and relatively lower production costs. Sun et al., (2021) and Uddin et al. (2003), both reported similar outcomes.  The higher gross and net returns in sole maize crop was due to higher plant population of maize, which resulted in higher grain yield. 

From the three years study, it can be realized that the sole maize cropping system can be improved by intercropping with legumes which had nutrient cycling advantages. It has the advantages of both soil fertility and crop yields also diversification of the existing cropping system will enhance the productivity and economic point of view. Therefore, it can be concluded that maize + groundnut intercropping was found to be a viable and remunerative intercrop in maize based intercropping systems in mid-hill altitude of North-East India.

The authors are thankful to the Director, ICAR-ATARI, Zone-VII, Umiam, Meghalaya for providing financial assistance towards conducting this Demonstration. The authors are also thankful to Director, ICAR-RC for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya for providing necessary facilities and continuous encouragement.

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.