Effect of intercropping on the performance of maize and cow pea

Abstract EN

The present study was carried out at the Experimental Farm of Agricultural Research Center, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Governorate, Egypt during 2017 and 2018 seasons to study the effect of intercropping maize {Zea mays, L.} cv.

Tri hybrid cross Nefertiti - 3 as main crop with cow pea {Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp} cv.

Carem-1 as secondary crop at nine treatments, three planting dates: T1 cow pea planted on the same day with maize, T2 cow pea planted after 15 days of maize planting and T3 cow pea planted after 30 days of maize planting as well as three cutting dates of cow pea taking one cut on different dates: D1 cutting after 45 days from sowing or D2 cutting after 60 days from sowing or D3 cutting after 75 days from sowing, beside of pure stands for maize and cow pea as a recommended.

The performed experiment was designed as a randomized complete block using split plot arrangement with three replications.

The results could be summarized as follows; treatment of T1D3 significantly increased plant height of maize as compared with pure stand and other treatments.

The treatment of T3D1 maize produced the greatest mean values of 100- grain weight (g), grains weight /plant (g) and grain yield (ardab /fad.).

Significant increase in plant height and leaf area index of cow pea at all treatments were detected as compared with the pure stands, while number of leaves/plant were of cow pea decreased at all treatments as compared with pure standsThe pure stands of the cow pea produced the maximum forage yield/fad.

as compared with other treatments in both seasons.

Meanwhile, growing cow pea under the treatment of T2D3 produced the highest values of forage yield/fad.

as compared with the other treatments in both seasons.

The protein ratio/plant and total ash/plant of grown cow pea under treatment of T3D3 produced the maximum as compared with all the other treatments in both seasons.

The highest value of crude fibers for the cow pea was recorded treatment of T3D1.

Treatment of T3D1 was the best for land utilization from land equivalent ratio (LER) and relative crowding coefficient (RCC).

Maize (dominant) and cow pea had the lowest values for aggressivity.

All treatments of cow pea with maize achieved higher economic return than pure maize and the most profitable pattern was T3D3