Influence of Different Ratios of Intercropping on Yield and Yield Components of Sweet Corn (Zea mays var. saccharata) and Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract

Yield and yield components of sweet corn and eggplant under different proportions of replacement intercropping, examined in randomized complete blocks design with 5 treatments and 3 replications in 2014. The treatments were included 75% sweet corn: 25% eggplant, 50% sweet corn: 50% eggplant, 25% sweet corn: 75% eggplant and sole cropping of each plant. The results showed that conserve grain yield, ear yield, fresh and dry matter yield of sweet corn and eggplant yield was higher than intercropped treatments. In addition, yield of each plant decreased with increasing of proportion of other plant in intercrop. The highest ratio of grain to ear, harvest index, and grain weight, ear weight in plant, fresh and dry weight of plant was related to 50: 50 sweet corn: eggplant ratio. Sweet corn was dominant in intercropping based on Aggressive Ratio. Investigating of Relative Crowding Coefficient ratio showed the advantage of 25% sweet corn + 75% eggplant and 50% sweet corn + 50% eggplant ratios compared to sole cropping. Based on Land Equivalent Ratio, the ratios of 25% sweet corn + 75% eggplant and 50% sweet corn + 50% eggplant increased land use efficiency by 5% and 6% more than crops in pure stand, respectively.

Keywords

• Conserve Grain Yield
• Grain to Ear Ratio
• Land Equivalent Ratio
• Relative Crowding Coefficient
• Replacement Intercropping