Intercropping treatments and nitrogen fertilizer affects growth and quality characteristics of corn and peanut
2011
Hassan, Z.A. (College of Agriculture, Duhok (Iraq). Horticulture Dept.) | Al-Mezori, H. (College of Science, Duhok (Iraq). Biology Dept.) | Duhoky, M.M.S. (University of Duhok (Iraq). Horticulture Dept.)
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of cropping systems and N-fertilization on growth of corn (Zea mays L.) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) grown in sole and inter-cropping systems (4 arrangements) for 2002 and 2003 growing seasons. The experiments were conducted under field conditions with two factors, cropping systems and N-fertilizer (0, 40 and 80kg of urea/ha). Intercropping increased different characters (stem diameter, leaf length, lea area index and oil % of grains) of crop growth and quality characters compared with sole corn. While the peanut plants resulted in the reduction of characters were compared to sole peanut. Protein% of corn grains showed significant increase when corn was intercropped with peanut on the same furrow at a ratio of (1:1). Nitrogen fertilization affected all characters of corn. Application of 80 kg/ha of urea improved all crop characters, the exception was oil% of corn grains which decreased wit h N-levels but this was not significant. Protein% of peanut kernels increased as N-levels increased compared to control, but oil% was decreased significantly as compared with control. Interaction between intercropping treatments and N-fertilizer affected stem diameter, number of leaves/plant, and significantly affected the other characters of corn. Intercropping of corn and peanut on alternate furrows at a ratio of (2:1), with 80kg urea/ha proved to be more suitable intercropping treatments and increased growth variables by more than 76% compared with sole crop system. The same was also found with peanut characters which increased by almost 80%.
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