Effect of plant density and arrangement on corn (Zea mays L.) and cowpea (Vignaunguiculata L.) row_intercropping.

Subject Areas :

Ahmadreza Esfahani ¹ , Hosain Amir Shekari ² , Behnam Zand ³ , Mohammadhosain Fotovkiyan ⁴

1 - Department of Agroecology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Department of Agroecology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of Agroecology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
4 - Department of Agroecology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2016-10-23 Accepted : 2017-05-02 Published : 2017-05-22

Keywords: Forage yield, corn, Cowpea, LER, row intercropping,

Abstract :

Mixed intercropping of cereal grains and legumes are widely used to produce feed stuffs and forages; as one of the arable crops production management methods, leading to functional improvement in unit level, both quantitatively and qualitatively.therefore, the field test in the Tehran research and educational center of natural resources based in varamin city was carried out to evaluate the intensity effects, plantation configurations in the solid mixed intercropping of maizes and cowpeas targeting arable crops production. The test was performed in the framework of completely random plan of blocks in the three replications. The maizes and cowpeas were planted in the two intensity levels; with 90,000 and 110,000 scrobs per hectare, 250,000 and 350,000 scrubs per hectare maizes and cowpeas respectively, also 8 mixed preplantingtreatments including the mixed plantation in one row (T5 treatment maize and cowpea density of 250000 × 90000 at a distance of 2 ± 6 × 18, T6 treated maize and cowpea density of 350000 × 90000 at a distance of 2 ± 5 × 18, T7 treatment of maize and cowpea density 250000 × 110000 at a distance of 2 ± 6 × 15, T8 treatment of maize and cowpea density of 350000 × 110000 at a distance of 2 ± 5 × 15) and Intercropping on two rows with the same compression ratio and distance(T9_T12) were planted based on the type of intensiry and the specified distances on 6. July 2015. Results showed that experimental treatments had significant effect on fresh and dry forage yields. The highest and the lowest dry yield wasobtained in planting ratio oftreatment T5 maize and cowpea density of 250000 × 90000 at a distance of 2 ± 6 × 18 with 45.7 ton.h-1and T3 pure culture of cowpea 250,000 plants per hectare with 20.4 ton.h-1, respectively. The highest LER, CI and LER/CI was obtained from planting ratio of treatment T5 maize and cowpea density of 250000 × 90000 at a distance of 2 ± 6 × 18with LER = 1.52,15.90, 0/15. Protein yield in intercropping was greater than sole maize crop.Results also showed thatintercropping as compared to sole cropping had the highest quantity and quality forage yield, and the bestplanting ratio was treatment T5 maize and cowpea density of 250000 × 90000 at a distance of 2 ± 6 × 18and harvest at doughy stage.