INFLUENCE OF INTERCROPPING IN MAIZE ON PERFORMANCE OF WEEDS AND THE ASSOCIATED CROPS

Abstract

Field experiments on intercropping in maize crop were conducted during 2008 and 2009 at Agriculture Research Institute, Tarnab Peshawar, Pakistan. The experiments were laid out in a randomized complete block design comprising of 11 treatments, including weed free sole maize (WFMz), weedy check sole maize (WCMz), sole French beans (Fb), sole mung-beans (Mb), sole sunflower (Sf), intercropping maize-1-row+Frenchbean-1-row (MzFb 1:1), maize-1- row+Frenchbean-2-rows (MzFb 1:2), maize-1-row+mungbean-1-row(MzMb 1:1), maize-1-row+mungbean-2-rows (MzMb 1:2), maize-1-row+ sunflower-1-row (MzSf 1:1), and maize-1-row+sunflower-2-rows (MzSf 1:2). The treatments significantly affected the weeds and crop parameters. Weed density (136 weeds m-2) and fresh biomass (2769 kg ha-1) were highest in the WCMz and Mb, respectively. The intercropping treatments resulted in 35-56% reduction in weed population. All the intercropping treatments showed 6.46 to 23.93% increase in the yield of maize over WCMz, except that in MzSf 1:2. Overall highest average grain yield of maize (3886 kg ha-1) was recorded in WFMz with 30.65% increase in yield over the WCMz (2695 kg). Among the intercropping treatments, maize yield was highest (3543 kg ha-1) in MzMb 1:1, where the yield was 23.93% higher than the WCMz; though it was at par with the MzFb 1:1 (3232 kg ha-1 with 16.62% yield increase over WCMz). The computed LER ranged between 1.023-1.294. Similarly, the cost benefit ratios (CBRs) ranged between 1.27 and 1.67. Among the intercropping treatments, highest CBR (1.64) was computed for MzSf 1:2, followed by MzMb 1:2 (1.58). Thus, intercropping reduced weed population, boosted maize performance, enhanced land utilization and increased farmers’ monitory advantage.