Agro-economic assessment of maize-soybean intercropping system

Despite being an agricultural country, Pakistan is facing severe shortage of edible oil. Crop intensification is required both in time and space to discourse the matter. Intercropping of soybean in maize may fulfill the need of edible oil. An experiment was conducted at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during autumn 2014 to assess the feasibility of maize-soybean intercropping in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Treatments were comprised of sole maize at 60 cm spaced single row, sole soybean at 30 cm spaced single row, sole maize at 90 cm spaced double row strips, maize at 90 cm spaced double row strips + 1 row of soybean, maize at 90 cm spaced double row strips + 2 rows of soybean and maize at 90 cm spaced double row strips + 3 rows of soybean. Fisher's analysis of variance technique and least significant difference test (LSD) at 5% probability level were used to analyze the data and comparison of differences among treatments' means respectively. Results of experiment depicted that grain yield of maize reduced from 5.9 t per ha in maize sole to 5.6 t per ha, 5.3 t per ha and 4.7 t per ha in maize plus 1 row of soybean, maize plus 2 rows of soybean and maize plus 3 rows of soybean, respectively. This reduction was compensated by the additional yield of 0.34 t per ha, 0.46 t per ha and 0.51 t per ha from 1 row, 2 rows and 3 rows of soybean, respectively. All yield contributing parameters such as plant height, cob length, number of grains per cob, 1000-seed weight and grain yield were reduced in intercropping than sole maize. Soybean yield contributing parameters were reduced in intercropping combination. Greater land equivalent ratio (1.27) was observed in double row strips of maize with 2 rows of soybean. Maximum net field benefits (Rs. 88681) and benefit cost ratio (1.90) was obtained through double row strips of maize + 2 rows of soybean. It was concluded that maize at 90 cm spaced double rows strips with 2 rows of soybean give better yield advantages and sufficient amount of edible oil for house hold use at farm level under Faisalabad conditions.