INFLUENCE OF SOWING PATTERN AND NITROGEN LEVEL ON THE PRODUCTIVITY UNDER MAIZE-CHICKPEA INTERCROPPING SYSTEM

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period of December, 2007 to May, 2008 to study the influence of sowing pattern and nitrogen levels on the productivity under maize­ chickpea intercropping system in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications. The experiment comprised seven treatments viz, T1 =Sole maize normal row ) with 120 kg N ha·1, T2 =Sole maize paired row (MPR) with 120 kg N ha-1, T3 = MNR + 2 chickpea rows with 120 kg N ha", T4 = MNR + 2 chickpea rows with 90 kg N ha-1, Ts= MPR + 5 chickpea rows with 120 kg N ha-1, T6 = MPR + 5 chickpea rows with 90 kg N ha" and T7 =Sole chickpea with 20 kg N ha". The results revealed that T5 showed better performance than the other intercropped treatments and sole crops in respect of total grain yield and economic benefit. From the economic point of view, the sole crops showed the lowest performance. Maximum grain yield of maize (4506 kg ha") and chickpea (1623 kg ha-1) were obtained in T1 and T7, respectively. The highest maize equivalent yield (7664 kg ha .. • VI 1) was found in T5 and the lowest in T2 (4192 kg ha-1). The highest LER (1.70) was observed in T5 which also gave maximum net return (91419 Tk ha") with the maximum BCR (2.96) whereas; the lowest LER (1.37) was recorded in T4 in intercropping situation .