Integrated Nutrient Management in Maize-Cowpea Intercropping System Is an Attractive Option to Improve the Fodder Productivity and Quality

ABSTRACT

The aim of present study was to assess the impact of integrated nutrient management in cereal-legume intercropping on fodder productivity, quality and nutrient uptake. The experiment was conducted during wet season of 2016 and 2017 at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana (India). Results indicated that significantly higher green fodder yield was recorded with monocropped maize with application of 75%RDF+Zn+PGPR+FYM and 100%RDF+Zn+FYM which remained statistically similar with maize and cowpea intercropped in 2M:1C ratio with application of 75%RDF+Zn+PGPR+FYM. Maize and cowpea intercropped in 1M:1C ratio recorded 20.4% higher crude protein (CP) yield over monocropped maize. The maize planted under 1M:1C ratio showed significantly higher macro and micronutrients content over monocropped. Furthermore, the maize and cowpea sown under 1M:1C ratio with application of 75%RDF+Zn+PGPR+FYM or 100%RDF+Zn+FYM also showed significantly higher nutrient uptake (macro and micronutrients) over remaining treatments. Therefore, intercropping of maize and cowpea in 1M:1C ratio with application of 75%RDF+Zn+PGPR+FYM or 100%RDF+Zn+FYM could be recommended to enhance forage productivity, nutrient uptake and also help in curtailing the external demand of protein by augmenting on farm protein production.

KEYWORDS:

• Cowpea
• maize
• intercropping
• forage quality
• nutrient management

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge Director, ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute for providing financial support, laboratory and field staff facility for completion of this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).