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Response of nitrogen in maize (Zea mays)-

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Article in Indian Journal of Agronomy · June 1999

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 Iradian Journal of Agrononzy 44 (2): 26 1-266 (June 1999)

Response of nitrogen in maize (Zea mays)-based

intercropping system
Y. S. SHIVAY', R. P. SINGH AND C. S. PANDEY ,

Department of Agrmomy, Govind Bdlabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology,

Pantnagar, Uttar Pradesh 263 145

Received: December 1997

ABSTRACT
A two years field experiment consisting of 4 cropping systems viz., sole maize
(Zea mays) (60,cm), sole maize (45190 cm), maize t urdbean (45190 cm) and
maize t soybean 145190 cm) and 4 levels of N applied to maize (i.e. 0, 40, 80 and
120 kg Nlha) was conducted during rainy seasons of 1992-93 and 1993-94, to
study the effect of cropping systems and nitrogen levels on growth, yield
attributes, yield and nitrogen uptake of maize. Planting of maize either with
urdbean or soybean significantly increasea LAI, grain yield, maize equivalents
and nitrogen uptake of maize over sole crop of maize during both the years. The
highest grain yield of maize and N uptake was recorded in maize t urdbean
whereas maize grain equivalent was recorded the highest with maize + soybean.
Growth parameters, yield attributes, grain yield, maize grain equivalent yield and
total nitrogen uptake by maize increased significantly with increasing doses of N
applied to maize.

Key words: Maize, Nitrogen, lntercropping system, Growth characters,

Yis13 attributes, Maize equivalents

Miize (Zea mays L.) is generally grown
intercropped with pulses or oilseeds, but
--- very little work has been done so far to
evaluate the nitrogen needs of the
intercropped stands. Intercropping with
legumes may maintain the system in a
positive nitrogen balance and if there is good
growth of legumes, the N contribution can
be significant. The fertilizer requirements of
intercropping systems may also vary from
-.
c '-
sole cropping owing to inclusion of crop of
dissimilar nature. Application of N fertiiizer
to a cereal-legume intercrop may enhance
the cereal yield but it proves less conducive
to growth and production of legumes (Searle
et al., 1981). By appropriate timing and
placement of N fertilizer within an
intercropping system; it is possible to
increase the applied N use efficiency by the
principal crop of maize and avoid the
potential deleterious effect on N,-fixation
legume intercrop (Rego, 1979). Since no

Present address: 'Division of Agronomy. I.A.R.I., New Delhi 110 012

262 SHIVAY ET AL.

information is available for nitrogen
requirement of maize-based intercropping
systems in the tarai region of Uttar Pradesh,
an experiment was conducted to study the
effect of cropping systems and varying
levels of nitrogen on growth, yield
attributes, yields and nitrogen uptake by
maize.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A field study was conducted during the
rainy (kharlj) seasons of 1992-93 and 1993-
94 at the Crop Research Centre of G.B. Pant
University of Agriculture and Technology,
Pantnagar (tarai). The experimental soil was
silty clay loam with pH 7.64 and 7.68,
organic carbon 0.80 and 0.83%, available N
310.0 3 16.5 kgha, available P 15.8 and 15.0
kg/ha and available K,O 321.3 and 325.6 kg/
*r 4.
ha during 1992-93 and 1993-94, respec-
tively. The treatments consisted of 4
cropping systems viz., sole maize (60 cm,
normal row planting), sole maize (45190 cm,
paired row planting), maize + urdbean (451
90 cm, paired row planting), maize +
soybean (45190 cm, paired row planting) in
main plots and 4 nitrogen levels (0, 40, 80
and 120 kg Nlha) in sub-plots. All the 16
treatment combinations were tested in split
plot design with 4 replications.
"~
Sowing of maize cv. 'Kanchan', soybean
cv. 'PK 327' and urdbean cv 'Pant U-19'
was done in the first week of July in both the
years. Before sowing the seeds of all crops
were treated with Thiram @ 2.5 g k g of seed
and urdbean and soybean seeds were also
inoculated with Bradyrhizobium vigna
and Bradyrhizobiuni japonicum cultures,

Table 1. Effect of cropping systems and nitrogen levels on growth and yield attributes of maize
Treatment Plant height Leaf area Dry matter Barrenness Shelling
(cm) index (glplant) at (%I .<I-

(90 DAS) 90 DAS

Cropping system
Sole maize (60 m) ' 166.6 167.2 1.27 1.27 78.9 81.8 12.8 12.1 73.1 72.8
Sole maize (45190 cm) 168.5 169.2 1.79 1.79 81.6 82.0 11.8 10.8 73.1 73.1
Maize + urdbean
(45190 cm) 174.9 176.2 1.86 1.85 83.7 84.2 9.8 10.4 73.5 73.2
Maize soybean
(45190 crn) 170.8 171.6 1.80 1.80 84.3 84.6 10.9 11.2 74.1 73.3
CD (P = 0.05) NS NS 0.19 0.13NS NS NS NS NS NS
N (kglha)
0 162.2 163.1 1.33 1.33 65.4 68.4 14.0 13.6 71.3 71.4

CD (P = 0.05) 9.8 9.3 0.15 0.15 5.6 4.7 2.5 1.5 3.4 NS -- -.
,,
Y 1992-93; Y,, 1993-94
 June 19991 N RESPONSE IN MAIZE BASED INTERCROPPING SYSTEM 263

.. .-- respectively. Thinning was done 15 and 25 at 90 DAS with 120 kg N/ha and it was 11.5,
days after sowing in each crop to keep the 29.4 and 50.7% higher in 1992-93 and 1 1.4,
plant to plant spacing of 5 cm in urdbean 29.6 and 44.8% in 1993-94 over dry matter
and soybean, 22 cm in maize. Nitrogen as accumulation recorded with 80, 40 kg Nlha
per treatment and a uniform dose of P,O, @ and control, respectively.
40 kglha to all the cropping systems was
given through urea and single super- Yield parameters
phosphate, respectively. One third nitrogen Barrenness and shelling percentage of
along with full dose of phosphorus was maize remained unaffected due to different
applied as basal while remaining nitrogen cropping systems in both the years (Table I).
was top dressed, one third at knee high stage Significant differences in barrenness of
c and one-third at tasselling. The different maize were recorded owing to different
crops were harvested at their physiological nitrogen levels during both the years. In
maturity. general, increased application of nitrogen
from 0 to the highest level (120 kg N/ha)
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION reduced the barrenness of maize. -
Growth parameters Application of 40 kg Nlha resulted in
Significant variation in LA1 of maize due significant reduction in barrenness as
to various cropping systems was recorded compared to control and were statistically
during both the years of study. At 90 DAS, same with its succeeding levels of nitrogen
the highest LA1 was recorded under maize + (80 and 120 kg Nlha) during 1992-93.
urdbean intercropping system grown in However, in 1993-94 application of 40 kg N
paired row planting and it was 46.4 and and 80 Nlha differed significantly with
3.9% higher in 1992-93 and 45.7 and 3.4% regard to barrenness of maize over control.
in 1993-94 over the LA1 recorded under sole 'The highest level of nitrogen application
maize grown with normal row planting, and remained statistically at par with its
paired row planting, respectively. The LA1 preceding level. In general, increasing level
of maize + soybean and maize + urdbean of nitrogen from 0 to 120 kg Nlha increased
cropping systems did not differ significantly. the shelling percentage of maize during both
In general, other growth parameters of the years; the differences being significant in
maize, namely, plant height, dry matter 1992-93.
accumulation (glplant), were not affected by
different cropping systems. , Grain yield
Growth parameters (plant height, LA1 Grain yield of maize was significantly
and dry matter accumulation) of maize influenced by different cropping systems in
significantly increased with successive both the years of experimentation.
increase in nitrogen levels from 0 to 120 kg lntecropping o f - maize with urdbean
Nlha in both the years (Table I). At 90 DAS, significantly increased the grain yield of
the maximum (1.97 and 1.97) LA1 was maize compared to sole maize grown both in
recorded with 120 kg Nlha and it was normal row planting and paired row
significantly higher than 80,40 kg N/ha and planting. However, it was statistically at pal-
-
I

--
. control, respectively. The maximum dry with that of maize + soybean cropping
matter accumulation per plant was recorded system. Growing of maize with urdbean
 Table 2. Effect of cropping systems and nitrogen levels on grain yield, maize equivalents and nitrogen uptake by maize
Treatment Grain yield (qlha) Maize equivalent (qlha) Nitrogen uptake (kgtha)

Y, Y, Pooled Y1 y2 Grain Stover Total

Yl YL y, y, YI y,
Cropping system
Sole maize (60 cm) 26.8 27.6 27.2 26.8 27.6 43.5 44.4 23.1 23.9 66.7 68.3
Sole maize (45190 cm) 28.4 28.9 28.6 28.4 283 45.9 46.6 23.8 25.8 69.7 73.4
Maize + urdbean (45190 cm) 32.7 32.2 32.5 44.7 41.7 56.3 . 55.7 27.3 28.2 83.7 83.9
Maize + soybean (45190 cm) 29.6 3 1.2 30.4 53.9 43.7 50.9 53.5' ' 27.2 27.9 77.5 81.4
CD (P = 0.05) 3.7 2.9 2.4 4.1 3r0 6.5 4.6 1.9 2.2 7.6 6.5

Y,. 1992-93; Y,, 1993-94

 Sunc 19991 N RESPONSE IN MAIZE BASED INTERCROI'PING SYSTEM 265

-. .- Table 3. Interaction effect of cropping systems and nitrogen level on grain yield (qlha) by maize
(pooled over two years)
Cropping system Nitrogen level (kglha)

0 40 80 120
Grnin yield (qlhn)
Sole maize (60 crn) 17.6 23.0 31.9 36.4
Sole maize (45190 cm) 20.3 24.3 34.0 36.0
Maize + urdbean (45190 crn) 26.8 29.3 36.1 ' 37.7
Maize + soybean (45190 crn) 24.1 27.9 33.5 36.1
*c
cn ( P = 0.05) 2.06 .
Nitl-ogen 11plnke(kgtllu)
Sole maize (60 cm) 45.3 55.3 80.3 92.5
Sole maize (45190 crn) 48.4 58.5 87.5 95.4
Maize + urdbean (45190 cm) 64.5 78.1 93.1 100.3
Maize + soybean (45190 cm) 59.9 76.7 88.7 100.1
CD (P = 0.05) 7.5 9.2

resulted in 22.0 and 15.2% higher grain
yield of maize in 1992-93 than sole maize
grown with normal row planting (60 cm)
C
and paired row planting (45190 cm),
respectively, while in 1993-94 this increase
was 16.7 and 1 1.5%. The pooled analysis of
grain yield data for both the years also
showed the same trend. This increase might
be attributed to N benefit to maize from
associated urdbean and soybean. Similar
observations were also made by Singh and
Bajpai (199 I), Venugopal and Shivashnakar
--
(1991) and Sharma (1994). -
Each successive increase in nitrogen
levels fr6m 0 to 120 kg N h a had significant
effect on grain yield of maize in both the
years (Table 2). The highest grain yield of
maize was recorded with 120 ,kg Nlha and
pooled over two years, it was 7.8, 39.9 and
64.4% higher over the yield obtained with
80, 4 0 kg Nlha and control, respectively.
. Increasing yield of maize with increasing
L .-*
nitrogen levels might be attributed to
significant improvement in the yield
attributes viz., decrease in barrenness and
increase in shelling percentage (Table I).
Badiyala and Verma (1 99 1 ) also reported
the significant increase in grain yield of
maize up to 120 kg Nlha.
Interaction effect between cropping
systems and nitrogen levels was observed
significant with respect to grain yield of
maize (Table 3).
Maize yield equivalents
Significant variation in maize equivalents
due to various cropping systems was
recorded in both the years, wherein
intercropping of soybean and maize resulted
in higher maize equivalents than
intercropping with urdbean and sole stand of
maize. Averaged over two years, maize
yield equivalent of maize + soybean
intercropping system was 12.9, 79.3 and
70.4% higher over the maize equivalent
yield recorded under maize + urdbean, sole
 266 SHIVAY ET AL.
maize grown with normal row planting and
paired row planting, respectively. These
increases in maize equivalent yield were
mainly due to additional yield advantage of
intercropping as well as higher market price Badiyala, D. and Verma, S.P. 1991. Integrated
of grain legumes than that of maize alone.
Successive increase in nitrogen levels
from 0 to 120 kg Nlha applied to maize
resulted in significant increase in maize
equivalent yield. Singh and Bajpai (1991)
also reported that application of 100 kg N/ha
to maize + 'T-9' blackgram and maize + 'Pb
1 ' soybean intercropping systems led to
significantly higher total maize equivalents
compared to sole maize in both the years.
Nitrogen uptake
The maximum N u ~ t a k ebv maize was
noted under maize + u;dbean Lntercropping
system and averaged over two years it was
5.5, 24.1 and 17.2% higher over the N
uptake recorded under maize + soybean and
sole maize grown in normal row planting
and paired row planting, respectively. This
increase in N uptake by the principal crop of
maize raised with legumes might be
attributed to the substantial role of legume Searte. .P.G.E.. Comudom. Y.. Shedden. D.C. and
component with respect t o transfer o f N
towards the maize crop. The-aboveresu.lts
are in conformity with those ofMartin et at.
(199 1) who reported N transfer from Sharma. J. 1994. Effect of fertility levels on
nodulating soybean to maize leading to
higher nitrogen uptake by maize
intercropped with soybean as compared to
sole maize. Chandel et al. (1993) also Singh, V . K . an Bajpai. R.P. 1991. intercropp-
reported that total N yield in maize +
soybean intercropping system was higher
compared with pure maizetsoybean.
Significant increase in N uptake with
each successive increase in nitrogen levels
applied to maize was recorded in both th.e
years. The maximum N uptake by maize was
recorded with 120 k g Nlha and "averaged
over two years, it was 11.2, 44.8 and 77.8%
View publication stats
higher over N uptake recorded with 80, 40 *
: ?
kg Nlha and control, respectively.
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Agl-onomy 36 (4) : 496-50 1.
Chandel. A.S., Singh, V.K. and Saxena. S.C.
1993. Canopy characters. net assimilation
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.. ,.
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