Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EFFECT OF INTERCROPPING OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) + COWPEA (VIGNA UNGUICULATA) ON PRODUCTION OF GREEN FODDER

A.S. Dhonde, N. H. Thorat, S.D. Thorat and M.S. Pilane

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2013 at the Agronomy Farm, College of Agriculture, Kolhapur on sandy clay loam soil with different row ratio of maize-cowpea fodders under sole and intercropping systems for getting higher fodder yield and economics. Green and dry fodder yields of maize, cropping systems either sole maize or maize + cowpea in the ratio of 2:2 were equally good and significantly superior to rest of the systems. The intercropping of maize with cowpea in a row ratio of 2:2 recorded maximum land equivalent ratio (1.15), gross (Rs. 84804/- ha-1) and net (Rs. 39985/- ha-1) returns along with higher benefit: cost ratio (1.89).