Baby Corn-Legumes Intercropping Systems: I. Yields, Resource Utilization Efficiency, and Soil Health

Abstract

The study was carried out at the Experimental Farm of the Indian Statistical Institute, Giridih, India during the winter seasons of 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 in a split-plot design with three replications. Four legume species (chickpea, pea, groundnut, and lentil) were intercropped with baby corn (Zea mays L.) in 2:1 and 2:2 row arrangements in an additive series besides their sole stand in main-plots and three weeding (no-, one-, and two-weedings) treatments in subplots. Sole baby corn and legumes produced higher economic and by-product yields than their intercropping system. The yield of baby corn declined by 5–14.4% and that of legumes by 8.3–44% when they were grown in association. Intercropping systems had higher baby corn equivalent yield, land use efficiency (28.9–47.2%), area-time efficiency (2.7–15.3%), and monetary advantages, especially in 2:2 row ratios. Baby corn + pea (2:2) followed by baby corn + chickpea (2:2) seemed to be the best intercropping systems in terms of yield advantages and economic returns. Weeding increased yields by reducing competition and yield losses thereby increasing land efficiency and productivity. Intercropping improved soil health measured in terms of NPK, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, soil enzymes, microbial respiration, and microbial biomass carbon.

KEYWORDS:

• baby corn
• legumes
• intercropping
• microbial biomass carbon
• soil respiration
• soil enzymes