Remesa Jan, Amal Saxena, Rukhsana Jan, Mehraj Ahmad Khanday and Rehana Jan
Abstract
The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of various intercropping patterns of maize and black cowpea on soil physico-chemical properties and yield attributes of maize. The results revealed that sole crop of maize followed by 2:1 and 2:2 recorded highest dry matter accumulation. Similarly, cobs per plant and grain weight per cob were also highest for sole maize crop followed by 2:1 intercropping pattern. Among various soil physico-chemical properties, soil pH was highest (7.0) for maize sole crop as compared to other treatments. Similarly, organic carbon was highest for black cowpea followed by 2:3 maize + black cowpea row ratio. Available nitrogen was highest for black cowpea sole followed by 2:3 row ratio. Available phosphorus and potassium was also highest for black cowpea sole followed by 2:3 row ratio intercropping pattern. Conclusively, it is stated that row ratio of 2:2 or 2:3 of maize and black cowpea is optimum to harness more yield per unit area of land through intercropping without much reduction in the individual yield levels of maize and black cowpea.