PRODUCTION POTENTIAL OF MAIZE AND MUSTARD UNDER DIFFERENT INTERCROPPING SYSTEMS IN MOISTURE DEFICIT SUB-TROPICAL AREAS OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIA

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1 Legume Res., 36 (5) : , 2013 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE / indianjournals.com PRODUCTION POTENTIAL OF MAIZE AND MUSTARD UNDER DIFFERENT INTERCROPPING SYSTEMS IN MOISTURE DEFICIT SUB-TROPICAL AREAS OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIA Brij Nandan*, B.C. Sharma, Anil Kumar and K.C.Nagar 1 AICRP on Chickpea, Pulses Research Sub-Station, Arazi Samba, SKUAST-Jammu , India Received: Accepted: ABSTRACT Field experiments were conducted at Dryland Research Sub-station, Rakh Dhainsar, Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu to study the effect of mustard and on the productivity of maize intercropping system in moisture deficit sub-tropical areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Initially the experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with four mustard based intercropping systems as experimental treatments during rabi of and by keeping the rabi imposed intercropping systems as main plot treatments, four new maize based intercropping systems as sub-plot treatments with four replications. The maize from intercropping system of maize+ cowpea preceded by mustard+ fieldpea registered statistical higher grain and stover yield as that recorded under sole maize preceded by mustard based intercropping systems and it was also produced more number of gains/cob and 1000-grain weight than other intercropping systems preceded by mustard based intercropping systems. Higher nutrient removal by maize was also recorded in maize+ cowpea preceded by mustard+ fieldpea system. Key words: Maize based systems, Moisture deficit conditions, Mustard based systems and Yield. INTRODUCTION Mustard maize rotation is popular in rainfed areas of northern India in general and Jammu in particular and both the crops are grown moslty under rainfed conditions ( Jamwal et al, 2007), however, their sequential intercropping systems by and large remained untouched. The beneficial effects of legumes on soil fertility by symbiotic nitrogen fixation are well established. Das and Mathur (1980) reported that residual effect of cowpea, blackgram and greengram as intercrop with maize up to 50kg/ha. The effect of preceding legumes on the succeeding cereals could be manipulated through their management. However, the efficiency of various legumes also varies greatly with their residual effect on succeeding crop. To supplement the information available on the residual effect of nitrogen on growth, yield and economics of maize in maize based intercropping systems the present study was undertaken. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present was conducted at the Research Farm of Dryland Research Sub-station, Rakh Dhainsar, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu during rabi seasons of to kharif The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam, low in organic carbon (0.46%), available nitrogen (174.2 Kg ha -1 ) and medium in available phosphorus (16.50 Kg ha -1 ), potassium (124 Kg ha -1 ) and sulphur (20.5 kg ha -1 ) with sufficient quantity of zinc (20.5 kg ha -1 ) as the availability of zinc in the soil is more than 20.5 Kg ha- 1.During the crop growth periods the temperature conditions were more favourable during second kharif season of 2010 as compared to kharif season of The kharif seasons of first and second crop cycles during the crop growing periods recorded maximum temperature values of 40.7 and 33.7 o C, respectively which were less than the average highest temperature and the extent of temperature * Corresponding author: AICRP on Chickpea, Pulses Research Sub Station, SKUAST-J, Samba , India 1 KVK, Bhilwara, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan , India

2 deviations from the normal values were to the tune of (-) 4.3 and (-) 7.3 o C, respectively. With respect to the temperature values of rabi seasons of and a maximum temperature of 30.2 o C and 36.8 o C were recorded in the month of March during both the years of experimentation. Likewise, the minimum temperatures of 5.5 and 4.4 o C and 18.2 and 20.0 o C were recorded during rabi and kharif seasons of first and second crop cycles, respectively, with temperature deviations of (+ ) 2.5 and (+ ) 1.4 o C and (+ ) 1.8 o C and 0.0 o C from the normal minimum temperature values (3 and 20 o C) for the rabi and kharif seasons of the experimental site. The mean weekly maximum and minimum temperatures ranged from 16.4 to 30.2 and 5.5 to 17.1 o C ; and 32.9 to 40.7 and 12.9 to 25.7 o C during the rabi and kharif seasons of first crop cycle, respectively, whereas, the corresponding values during were 13.2 to 36.8 and 4.4 to 20.2 o C ; and 31.4 to 37.7 and 20.2 to 26.8 o C.The mean values for maximum temperature for first few standard meteorological weeks were relatively higher whereas mean minimum temperature values were declining sharply leading to greater diurnal variations during kharif In contrast of these conditions, such values were more favourable in kharif The mean values for maximum and minimum temperatures were declining at constant rates during kharif season of 2010 as against the season of 2009 where greater fluctuations were noticed. The rainfall data of the crop growth periods revealed that a total of and mm of rainfall was received during rabi to kharif,2009 and rabi to kharif,2010, respectively. Out of the total rainfall of and mm received during the crop growing period, and 37.4 mm during rabi ( ) and kharif (2009),respectively whereas and mm were received during the rabi ( ) and kharif (2010), respectively. A seasonal deficit of 33 and 77 per cent in rainfall below normal s (165.8 mm ) was recorded during rabi seasons of and , respectively, while as the extent of deficit rainfall was to the tune of 28.4 per cent in kharif season of 2009, however, the kharif season of 2010 experienced a 32.7 per cent higher rainfall over its seasonal normal values (750 mm). Vol. 36, No. 5, Initially the experiment was laid out in a randomized block design in four replications with four mustard based intercropping systems viz, sole mustard, mustard+ fieldpea, mustard+ chickpea and mustard+ lentil. as experimental treatments during rabi season and keeping the rabi imposed intercropping systems as main plot treatments for kharif, four maize based intercropping systems viz, sole maize, maize+ moong, maize+ urdbean maize+ cowpea were introduced as sub-plot treatments. A uniform dose of : N-P-K- S and : N-P-K-Zn were applied to mustard main crop of rabi season) and applied recommended dose of fertilizer to maize crop of kharif season crop applied recommended dose of fertilizer. The crops were sown on 9 and 11 November and 4 th July and 25 th June of respective rabi and kharif seasons of both the years with a crop geometry of 30 X 10 cm (mustard) and 75 X 20 cm (maize).the crops were harvested on 25 March and 15 April during first and second rabi seasons whereas the kharif crops were harvested on 28 and 30, September of 2009 and 2010, respectively.yield parameters and yield were recorded as per the standard procedures. Economics was calculated on the basis of input and output prices and all observations recorded on different aspects were analyzed statistically following standard procedure. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Effect of intercrops on mustard crop:the data given in Table 1 revealed that sole crop of mustard in produced significantly more seed and stover yields as compared to mustard+ chickpea and mustard+ lentil intercropping systems. It was found to be statistically at par with that of seed and stover mustard yields realized under mustard+ fieldpea intercropping system. The significantly higher seed yield of mustard in sole stand might be attributed to higher numerical values of all the yield attributes including significant improvement in siliquae bearing ability of sole mustard as compared to their values in chickpea and lentil intercropped mustard. The optimum space as available for mustard plants under sole stand reduced the competition for moisture, nutrients and light among the mustard plants as compared to that as provided under other intercropping combinations might be responsible for the production of higher yield attributes of sole crop

3 438 LEGUME RESEARCH TABLE 1: Effect of intercropping on seed, stover and equivalent yield of mustard during and Treatments Seed yield (q/ha) Stover yield (q/ha) Equivalent yield (q ha -1 ) of mustard. These results are in agreement with the findings of Prasad (1995) and Singh et al. (2008). Stover yield of mustard as realized under mustard based intercropping systems followed the similar statistical trends as were observed for seed yield. Shivran (2002) and Chalka and Nepalia (2005) also reported that this can be ascribed to the combined contribution of both seed and stover yields towards its biological yields as realized under different treatments. The intercropping system where mustard was grown with fieldpea as intercrop recorded significantly higher mustard equivalent yield of and q ha -1 during the years of and ,respectively. It was found to be statistically similar in mustard equivalent yield with the intercropping system wherein mustard was taken with chickpea (17.92 and q ha -1 ) which in turn was found to be statistically at par with mustard+ lentil in recording mustard equivalent yield of and 7.38 q ha -1 during the years and ,respectively. The per cent increase in respect of mustard equi valent yield of mustard+ fieldpea, mustard+ chickpea and mustard+ lentil over sole mustard was to the tune of 73.48, and per cent, during the year and 78.13, and per cent during the year , respectively. Singh et al. (2008) also reported that this increase in mustard equivalent yield realized from intercropping of mustard with pulses was mainly due to the additional yield of component crops in the intercropping system. Effect of previous crops on maize: An improvement in plant population and number of cobs plant -1 of maize crop in maize based intercropping systems preceded by mustard based systems (Table 2) over that of maize preceded by Y 1 Y 2 Y 1 Y 2 Y 1 Y 2 Sole Mustard Mustard + Fieldpea Mustard + Chickpea Mustard + Lentil C.D at 5 % Y 1 = ; Y 2 = and NS = Non-significant sole mustard and a significant enhancement in grains cob -1 as well as 1000-grain weight of maize in maize based intercropping systems preceded by mustard+ fieldpea being statistically at par with mustard+ chickpea which in turn was statistically similar with mustard+ lentil based systems over that of maize preceded by sole mustard, it was happened due to the variation in contribution of residual nitrogen by different mustard based intercrops which created favourable soil environment. Similar results were also reported by Sharma et al.(1998) in maize-based legume intercropping on growth of succeeding wheat crop. Among the maize based intercropping systems, maize in maize+ cowpea recorded numerical increase in plant population and number of cobs plant -1 and a significant improvement in grains cob -1 and 1000-grain weight over maize crop grown with moongbean followed by urdbean as intercrops as well as in its sole cropping. Chalka and Nepalia (2005) and Shapoo (2006) also reported that better source-sink relationship and check on soil moisture loss because of varied canopy cover of intercrops and their synergetic effect favouring better environment for growth and development of the plants might have helped in improving yield attributes amongst the various maize based intercropping treatments. A significant reduction in grain and stover yields (Table 3) of sole maize preceded by sole mustard over maize preceded by mustard+ fieldpea intercropping system being statistically at par with mustard+ chi ckpea and which in turn was statistically similar to mustard+ lentil. Sharma et al. (1998) advocate that the reduction in yield of sole crops than intercropping systems might have occurred due to the cumulative effect of their respective yield attributing characters.

4 Y1 = 2009; Y2 = 2010 and NS = Non-significant Interactions NS Sole musturd TABLE 3: Effect of mustard- maize system based intercropping sequences on N, P, K, S (Kg /ha) and Zn (g /ha) uptake of maize Y1 = 2009; Y2 = 2010 and NS = Non-significant Interactions NS 5.81 TABLE 2: Treatment effect on yield attributes grain, stover and equivalent yield of maize during 2009 and Vol. 36, No. 5,

5 440 LEGUME RESEARCH As regards the grain and stover yields of maize in maize based intercropping systems preceded by mustard based systems, it was observed that the crop of maize in maize+ cowpea intercropping system produced statistically higher grain and stover yields over all other maize based intercropping systems as well as sole maize. Shivran(2002) and Rana and Choudhary (2006) reported that this might be due to the cumulative effects of improved yield contributing parameters of maize recorded under these treatments A significant enhancement in equivalent yield of maize was noticed when it was preceded by mustard+ fieldpea intercropping system recording and q ha -1 of maize grains equivalent yield during the crop growing seasons of 2009 and 2010 as compared to when maize crop was preceded by sole mustard with and q ha -1, respectively. An increase in the maize equivalent yield of maize to the tune of and ; and ;14.95 and 7.68 per cent was recorded when it was followed by mustard+ fieldpea, mustard+ chickpea and mustard+ lentil intercropping systems over sole crop of mustard during both the seasons of 2009 and 2010, respectively. Padhi and Panigrahi (2006), Rand and Choudhary (2006), Pathak and Singh (2008) also mentioned that this increase in equivalent yield might be accredited to the influence of different intercrops taken under different intercropping systems with their differential yield behaviors as well as respective market rates and temporal complementarities. Effect of intercrops on Nutrient uptake: Maize after mustard+ fieldpea showed significantly higher N, P and K uptake and was found to be statistically similar with that was taken after mustard+ chickpea which in turn at par with that when maize was preceded by mustard+ lentil. The numerically higher values of S and Zn showed in grains and stover of maize grown after mustard+ fieldpea followed by that was taken after mustard+ chickpea and mustard+ lentil. Among the maize based intercropping systems preceded by mustard based intercropping systems recorded markedly higher uptake of N, P, K, S and Zn in grain and stover of maize than pure stand of maize. Significant variation in respect or N, P and K and non-significant differences of S and Zn uptake by grains and stover of maize grown in association with cowpea followed by maize+ moongbean and maize+ urdbean were recorded over that of sole maize preceded by mustard based intercropping systems. Singh et al. (1986) and Thakur and Bora (1987) noticed that this increased uptake of nutrients in intercropping systems might have happened primarily because of increased concentration of these nutrients in grain and stover of maize and secondly due to different rooting system of the crop associated in intercropping systems, degenerating behavior of legume nodules due to shades provided by maize canopy as well as the current nitrogen transfer which resulted in varied biomass production in maize plants under these treatments. REFERENCES Chalka, M. K. and Nepalia, V. (2005). Production potential and economics of maize (Zea mays) intercropped with legume as influenced by weed control. Indian J. Agron., 50 (2) : Das, P and Mathur, B. P.(1980): Relative performance of different kharif legumes as pure and intercrops in maize and their residual effect on wheat. Indian J. Agron., 25(4): Jamwal, B.S, Singh, S.K, Kapoor, J and Nandan, B. (2007): Maize cultivation in Jammu region. A bulletin published by Pulses Research Sub-Station, Samba, SKUAST-Jammu Prasad, A.V.R. (1995). Studies on oleiferous Brassica and chickpea intercropping. Ph.D. Thesis. Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. Padhi, A. K and Panigrahi, R.K. (2006). Effect of intercrop and crop geometry on productivity, economics, energetic and soil fertility status of maize (Zea mays)- based intercropping systems. Indian J. Agron., 51(3): Pathak, K. and Singh, N. P. (2008). Growth and yield of blackgram (Phaseolus mungo) varieties under intercropping systems with maize (Zea mays) during rainy season in North India. Farming System Research and Development. 14 (1): Rana, K.S. and Chodhary, R.S. (2006). Productivity, nitrogen uptake and water use in maize (Zea mays L.) + mungbean intercropping system as affected by nitrogen levels under rainfed conditions. Crop Res. 32 (3) :

6 Vol. 36, No. 5, 2013 Sharma, V.M, Chakor, I.S. and Manchana, A.K.(1998). Effect of maize (Zea mays)-based legume intercropping on growth and yield attributes of Succeeding wheat (Triticum aestivum) and economics. Indian J. Agron., 43(2) : Shivran, R. K. (2002). Studies on intercropping and moisture conservation practices on growth, yield and water use efficiency of maize under rainfed conditions. M.Sc. Thesis. Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. Singh, H.G, Singh, M and Singh, M.P. (1986). Response of oilseeds to sulphur. Fertlizer News. 31(9) : Shapoo, F. A. (2006): Relative efficacy of different herbicides for weed control in maize-pulse intercropping system under sub-tropical conditions of Jammu. M.Sc. Thesis, Division Of Agronomy, SKUAST-J, Jammu, India. Singh, U., Saad, A. A, and Singh, S. R. (2008). Production potential, biological feasibility and economic viability of maize (Zea mays)-based intercropping systems under rainfed conditions of Kashmir valley. Indian J. Agron., 78(12): Thakur, R. C and Bora, U. C. (1987). Effect of planting geometry in maize+ blackgram intercropping system. Indian J. Agron., 32 (1):