Performances of maize and soybean as influenced by intercropping and fertilizer sources in the Northern Guinea Savanna agro-ecology of Nigeria

Abstract

Inorganic fertilizer recommendation for ameliorating soil fertility decline is facing many challenges. Information on the alternative (organomineral fertilizer) for use in the intercrop is scarce in Tarabe, Nigeria. Hence, inorganic and organomineral fertilizer (OF) effects were evaluated on growth, N uptake and yield of maize and soybean. Using a 2 x 9 factorial field experiment in 2016 and 2017, cropping systems (sole and intercrop) were evaluated under nine fertilizer levels (control, 50, 100, 150, 200 kg N/ha OF and 50, 100, 150, 200 kg N/ha NPK 20-10-10 fertilizers) in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Maize (ACR-95DT) and soybean seeds (TGX 144 8-2E) were sown at 40,000 and 74,000 plants per ha, respectively. The results indicated that intercropping improved maize and soybean leaf area, but resulted in a significant reduction in N uptake and yields in the two growing seasons. Maize yield varied significantly among treatments and ranged from 0.78 (control) - 2.32 t/ha (150 kg N/ha OF) and 1.04 (control) - 2.13 t/ha (150 kg N/ha NPK) in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Also, soybean yield was significantly increased at 100 kg N/ha OF (1.14 t/ha) compared to 150 kg N/ha OF (0.83 t/ha) in 2016, while 150 kg N/ha OF and NPK had significantly higher yields than the other treatments in 2017. The cropping system and fertilizer interaction had no significant influence on maize and soybean grain yields in both years. Organomineral fertilizer at 150 kg N/ha was suggested for improving maize and soybean intercrop.

Keywords

• cropping system
• growth
• yield
• nitrogen uptake
• organomineral fertilizer