Productivity and economics of maize–squash intercropping at different planting systems

Abstract

The competitive behaviors of maize–squash intercropping at different planting systems were studied at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Hathazari, Chittagong, Bangladesh during the Rabi season of 2016–17 to find out the suitable planting arrangement of maize–squash intercropping for maximum productivity and economic return. There were seven treatments i.e. T1= sole maize, T2= 1 row maize (100%) + 1 row squash (6 plants/row), T3= maize paired row (100%) + 1 row squash (5 plants/row), T4= maize paired row (100%) + 1 row squash (4 plants/row), T5= maize paired row (100%) + 2 row squash (5 plants/row), T6= maize paired row (100%) + 2 row squash (4 plants/row) and T7= sole squash. Results revealed that the Maize Equivalent Yield (MEY) was highest (18.39 t/ha) in T5treatment, where Maize paired row (100%) + 2 row squash (5 plants/row) was consummated. The highest Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) 1.62 was found in T5 treatment. Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) was also the highest (3.29) in T5 treatment. Maize paired row (100%) and two rows of squash (5 plants /row) was the suitable row arrangement of the intercrops for judicious use of land consisting optimum populations of the component crops to produce more yield and economic profitJ. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 16(1): 23-26, April 2018

Intensification of Milpa in the State of Mexico: Net Incomes, Food Security and Land Equivalent Ratio

“…This means that in the pattern of two rows of tall plants (maize) and two of low plants (husk tomato adjacent to squash), squash made a greater contribution to species yield. The results are similar to those obtained by Mahmud et al (2018), who showed that intercalating two rows of maize and two rows of squash has the highest land equivalent ratio (1.62), compared with other topological patterns. The lower yield of the MTMS pattern, compared with MMTS and monocrops, is attributed to competition among the species for light, water, and nutrients (Mahmud et al, 2018).…”

“…The results are similar to those obtained by Mahmud et al (2018), who showed that intercalating two rows of maize and two rows of squash has the highest land equivalent ratio (1.62), compared with other topological patterns. The lower yield of the MTMS pattern, compared with MMTS and monocrops, is attributed to competition among the species for light, water, and nutrients (Mahmud et al, 2018). Albino-Garduño et al (2015) report similar results for intercalating one row each of maize and beans; the low yields of the short crops are attributed to shading by the maize and the extensive distribution of maize roots.…”

“…Both in SPR and in SJC, the milpa with intercropped maize, husk tomato and squash produced higher net incomes than the maize in monocrop. Mahmud et al (2018) reported similar results when they grew maize intercropped with squash. The maximum NI of the rainfed intercropped milpa was lower than that under irrigation.…”

“…In MMTS, accumulated yield of the crops is equivalent to 11.2 (rainfed) and 31.1 (irrigated) Megagrams of maize. As a reference, with this topological pattern, Mahmud et al (2018) calculated MEY at 18.39 tons (Megagrams) per hectare (Mg ha -1 ) with two rows of maize intercalated with two rows of squash. With the maize yield equivalent, the RFSI was calculated in terms of maize.…”

“…The average increase in yield is 2.1 ±0.1 Mg ha -1 compared with monocropping. Previous studies reported that hybrid maize responds positively to intercalation since the land equivalent ratios (LER) are above 1 when it is intercropped with beans (Nassary et al, 2019;Li et al, 2020) and squash (Mahmud et al, 2018). In the agro-system of milpa intercropped with fruit trees (MIFT), maize is intercalated with low stature species called understory crops (Turrent et al, 2017).…”