Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at GBPUA&T, Pantnagar to study the influence of planting pattern and nutrientmanagement on growth dynamics of intercropped maize (Zea maysL.) and urdbean (Vigna mungoL.). The experiment consisting of two intercropping planting pattern (single rows at 67.5 cm with 1+1 additive and paired rows at 45/90 cm with 2+2 additive), fertilizer application methods (broadcast, furrow and side placement) and two levels of nitrogen in maize (75 and 100% of recommended) vis-à-vis the sole crops of maize and urdbean was conducted in a factorial RBD with three replications. Maize growth was not affected due to variation in planting patterns. Application of fertilizers in furrows and 100% recommended nitrogen dose (RND) in maize resulted in higher growth and better values of physiological parameters viz. plant height, shoot dry matter accumulation and LAI. Dry matter accumulation, LAI, CGR, and NAR of urdbean were found higher in paired row system compared to normal intercropping. Significant reduction in growth of intercropped urdbean was recorded over its sole crop. Grain yield of intercropped maize (3.57 t/ha) was statistically similar to its sole crop. Planting pattern did not affect maize grain yield but urdbean recorded significantly 19.5% higher grain yield under paired row system. Furrow and side placement methods were significantly superior to broadcast method with respect to maize grain yield by an advantage of 13.2 and 8.4%, respectively. Application of 100% RDN in maize resulted significantly 8.8% more grain yield than that of 75% RDN. The study indicated that there was negligible impact of intercropping on maize growth and urdbean showed better growth in paired row panting pattern.