Production Potential and Economics of Fodder Maize (Zea Mays) Varieties Sown Under Varying Intercropping Systems with Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata)
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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(12): 4082-4087 International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 12 (2017) pp. 4082-4087 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.612.469 Production Potential and Economics of Fodder Maize (Zea mays) Varieties Sown under Varying Intercropping Systems with Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) Sapna Bhagat*, Meenakshi Gupta, Monika Banotra, Arpita Sharma, Sandeep Kumar and Ashu Sharma Department of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu-180009, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT The field experiment was conducted during Zaid season of 2014 to study the Production Potential and Economics of Fodder Maize (Zea mays) Varieties Sown under Varying Intercropping Systems with Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), at the Research Farm of K e yw or ds Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu. The treatments include three fodder maize cultivars (African tall, J- Economics, Fodder, 1006 and local variety) and cowpea (CL-367) were sown in sole crop as well as in Intercropping, Yield. intercropping systems consisting of sixteen treatments in Randomized block design Article Info replicated thrice. Among the sole varieties significantly highest green biomass yield, dry biomass yield, net returns and B: C ratio was recorded with African tall followed by Sole Accepted: J-1006 whereas among intercropping treatments significantly the highest fodder maize 28 November 2017 green biomass and yield, net returns and b: c ratio was recorded with African tall Available Online: intercropped with cowpea in 2:1 row ratio. Therefore, African tall variety of fodder maize 10 December 2017 as sole and African tall variety of fodder maize intercropped with cowpea in 2:1 row ratio was found best for increasing yield potential and economics of fodder maize in different intercropping systems. Introduction Maize (Zea mays), among the different fodder production costs (Anil et al., 2000 and crops is regarded as one of the important dual Cusicanqui and Lauer, 1999). Although maize purpose crop, used in human diet as well as provides high yield in terms of dry matter, it animal feed. Maize has the potential to supply produces forage with low protein content. large amounts of energy-rich forage for daily However, protein is needed by livestock for animal diets and its fodder can safely be fed at growth and milk production. Protein is also all stages of growth without any danger of needed by rumen bacteria which digest much oxalic acid, prussic acid as in case of sorghum of the feed for ruminant animals (Ghanbari, (Dahmardeh et al., 2009). Thus, forage maize 2000).besides the requirement of the animal is has become a major constituent of ruminant to high and hence to balance the protein rations in recent years, as its inclusion as production and consumption within a unit dairy cow diets improves forage intake, amount of land is the need of the therefore increases animal performance and reduces legume as an intercrop with maize can help us 4082 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(12): 4082-4087 to generate more fresh fodder and protein plant or may be excreted from the nodules yield. Among different legumes as intercrop into the soil and be used by other plants Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), an annual growing nearby. Legumes can also transfer legume with high level of protein (about two fixed N to intercropped cereals during their times more than maize), can be mixed with joint growing period and this N is an maize to improve forage protein content of important resource for the cereals. Besides diets and thus, the cost of high quality forage increasing the ecological and economic production can be lowered. It is capable of diversity, intercropping brings an increase in fixing nitrogen in association with rhizobium production or yield benefits, more efficient bacteria. Thus for improving the nitrogen use of water resources, land, nutrients and status of soil, cowpea could be grown best on labours, reduction in problems caused by well drained soils of moderate to high pests, diseases and weeds (Awal et al., 2006). fertility, such as homestead fields, or top land Intercropping may also lead to increased fields with a history of manure or fertilizer production per unit area per unit time without application. In low phosphorus field, the affecting the yield of main crop to a greater benefits from the cowpea are reduced. extent. Growing of two or more crop species Supply of forage is inadequate in the country simultaneously in the same field during a not only in terms of quality but also in growing season is defined as intercropping quantity. Since the scope of area expansion (Ofori and Stern, 1987), has many advantages under fodder cultivation (5 per cent of over sole cropping. It provides an efficient cultivable area) is limited, the productivity of utilization of environmental resources, fodder crops is to be raised through best reduces risk of the cost of production, utilization of the resources of the prevailing provides greater financial stability for production systems. Intercropping of farmers, decreases pest damages, suppresses botanically diverse forage species like cereals weed growth more than monocultures, and legumes appear to be one of the feasible improves soil fertility through increased N approaches for increasing the herbage yield, content and improves forage yield and quality utilization of land more efficiently, improving (Francis et al., 1976 and Willey, 1979). Many the forage quality and providing stability to researchers have explored the use of production (Tripathi, 1989). intercropping for forage production. Toniolo et al., (1987) reported significantly higher Materials and Methods crude protein content of maize-pulse intercropping than that of mono-cropped A field experiment was conducted during maize. Fodder cowpea when mixed with Zaid 2014 at the Research Farm of Division fodder maize increases the protein content of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of and tonnage of fodder with higher Agricultural Sciences and Technology of- palatability. Cereal fodder-legume Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) situated at intercropping plays an important role in 32o39' N latitude and 740 53' E longitude at an subsistence food production in both elevation of 332 meter above mean sea level. developed and developing countries, The research farm of the Division of especially in situations of limited water Agronomy comes under the subtropical- resources. Intercropping of cereal fodder and irrigated Shiwalik foothill zone. The soil of legume crops helps to maintain and improve the experimental site was sandy clay loam in soil fertility. Legumes fix atmospheric texture. The soil was slightly alkaline in pH nitrogen, which may be utilized by the host (7.31) with electrical conductivity in the safer 4083 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(12): 4082-4087 range (0.19 dsm-1), low in organic carbon Gross returns (0.37) and available N (245.78kg/ha) but medium in available phosphorus (13.26 Gross returns (Rs/ha) were worked out by kg/ha) and potassium (144.26 kg/ha). The multiplying the saleable products (Stover) of experiment was laid out in randomized block the different cultivars of fodder maize and design with three replications and comprising cowpea by their then prevailing sale rates. Sixteen treatment combinations with three fodder maize cultivars “African tall, J-1006 Net returns and local variety” and cowpea “CL-367” were sown as sole crop as well as in intercropping Net returns (Rs/ha) were calculated by systems. The net plot area was 3.0× 2.20 m deducting the cost of cultivation from the with spacing 30 × 15 cm. The recommended gross returns. doses of N (50 kg), P2O5 (24 kg) and K2O (12 kg) were applied in the form of urea, Net returns = Gross returns - Cost of diammonium phosphate and muriate of cultivation potash, respectively. Benefit-Cost ratio Half of the dose of N and whole amount of P and K was applied as basal and the remaining Benefit-Cost ratio of different treatments was half dose of nitrogen was applied at 25 days calculated by using the formula: interval. The treatment wise green biomass yield was taken from the each net plot and Net returns Benefit : Cost ratio averaged to get green biomass yield per plot Total cost of cultivation whereas for dry biomass yield samples drawn for dry matter accumulation studies at harvest Results and Discussion were utilized for calculating dry biomass yield.The fresh weight of the samples were Green biomass yield and dry biomass yield 0 recorded and dried in hot air oven at 75 C for 48-72 hours to record the dry weight. Plot- Fodder maize cultivars varied significantly wise green biomass yield was multiplied by with regard to green biomass and dry biomass respective dry matter percentage to get dry yield.Among different sole fodder cultivars, weight in kg per plot and was expressed dry African tall as a sole crop recorded green biomass yield in q/ha. biomass yield of 211.93 q/ha and was statistically at par with sole maize cultivar J- Economics 1006 (205.90 q/ha); whereas sole cowpea cultivar (CL-367) recorded significantly Cost of cultivation lowest green biomass yield of 165.29 q/ha whereas among various sole fodder maize The total cost of cultivation (Rs/ha) of each cultivars and intercropping treatments treatment is calculated on per hectare basis. increased the dry biomass yield of crop up to The wages of labour, amount spent on harvest. Among the fodder maize cultivars, mechanical power for different operations and African tall recorded highest dry biomass cost of inputs such as seed, fertilizers, yield 48.16 q/ha at harvest which was herbicide and pesticides were calculated on followed by sole J-1006 (46.21 q/ha) and sole the basis of the then prevailing market rate of local variety 45.56q/ha, Whereas dry biomass the respective items.