Ecophysiological Investigation of Intercropping of Maize (Zea mays L.) and Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) under the Influence of Biofertilizers

Abstract

To study the management of different systems of maize (Zea mays) and cow pea (Vigna unguiculata) intercropping affected by biofertilizers in alley cropping, a split plot experiment based on a randomized complete blocks design was conducted in 2016 in Aleshtar city, Lorestan province. The main factor consisted of plant cropping ratios: single cropping of maize (M1), 75% maize + 25% vigna (M2), 50% maize + 50% vigna (M3), 25% maize + 75% vigna (M4), and single cropping of vigna (M5) and the second factor of different combination of biofertilizer consumptions: seed inoculation with 100 g.ha-1 azetobacteria and azospirilum (B1), seed inoculation with 200 g.ha-1 azetobacteria and azospirilum (B2) and without seed inoculation (B3). Results showed that the maize and cowpea yields and their components were influenced by crops and biofertilizer ratios significantly. Highest maize and vigna yields (11350 and 3250 kg.ha-1 respectively) were obtained by 75% maize + 25% vigna treatment. The highest yields of maize and vigna (11850 kg and 3450 kg.ha-1 respectively) were obtained by seed inoculation with 200 g.ha-1 bacteria. The highest land equivalent ratio (LER) with an average of 1.55 was observed with cropping ratio of 75% maize + 25% vigna. This indicates the usefulness of intercropping compared with single croppings of these two plants. It can be concluded that the best treatment in this study was 75% maize+ 25% vigna intercropping and seed inoculation with 200 g.ha-1 bacteria.

Keywords

• azetobacteria
• azospirilum
• intercropping usefulness
• land equivalent ratio
• planting ratio