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Grain yield
and biomass response of a maize/dry bean intercrop to maize
density and dry bean variety
R.L Molatudi*
and I.K. Mariga
School
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of
Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, South Africa.
*Corresponding author:
lraisibe@gmail.com
Accepted 26 October, 2010 |
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An experiment was conducted under dryland conditions at the
University of Limpopo experimental farm at Syferkuil in
Capricorn district in 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 growing seasons to
determine the effect of maize density and dry bean variety
on maize/bean intercrop performance. The trial was at 2×2×2
factorial consisting of eight treatments: two maize
densities (24 700 and 37 000 plants/ha), two dry bean
varieties (small white haricot and red speckled sugar bean)
and two cropping systems (sole cropping and intercropping).
Open pollinated maize variety ZM 523 (ex CIMMYT) was used in
the trial. The results showed that maize
density of 24 700 plants/ha yielded lower maize grain than
the recommended 37 000 plants/ha and maize grain
yields in sole cropping were significantly higher than in
intercropping in both growing seasons. Intercropping of
maize with red speckled sugar bean resulted in lower grain
yield than intercropping of maize with small white haricot
in both seasons. Increasing maize density to 37 000
plants/ha reduced number of branches per plant and grain
yield of dry bean in both seasons. Sole cropping produced
the highest dry bean grain yield component values.
Intercropping maize and beans was advantageous at the
different bean variety x maize
density combinations with all, except one, achieving
Land equivalent ratio (LER)
values greater than 1. Intercropping of maize plant density
of 37 000 plants/ha with red speckled sugar bean gave the
highest total LER value in 2007/8 season but less than 1 in
2008/9 season. Intercropping was more advantageous than sole
cropping in this study. The highest monetary values were
achieved by the bean sole crops and their intercrops with 24
700 plants/ha maize. In this study maize densities of 37 000
plants/ha and 24 700 plants/ha were found to be suitable for
sole maize and maize/bean intercropping, respectively.
Key words:
Maize/bean, intercropping, smallholder, maize density, bean
variety. |
