Influence of row ratio and zinc levels on yield, nutrient uptake and soil fertility status of maize (zea mays l.) – soybean (glycine max l.) Intercropping systems under rainfed conditions

A field experiment was carried out during the rainy (kharif) season of 2009–10 at Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, India to find out effect row ratio (1:1 and 1:2) and zinc levels on yield, nutrients uptake and soil fertility status of maize -soybean intercropping systems under rainfed condition. The results revealed that grain and stover yield of maize and soybeans were less in intercropping systems compared to sole cropping. Intercropping of 1:1 and 1:2 ratio declined the seed yield by 14.75 and 11 per cent in maize and 52.19 and 38.34 per cent in soybean as compared to sole crop. However, the total productivity of systems in terms of maize grain equivalent and LER (6182 kg ha−1 and 1.47) was found to be higher with maize + soybean 1:2 ratio. Irrespective of the cropping system, application of 50 kg ZnSO4 ha−1 recorded significantly higher grain yield of maize (5301 kg ha1), soybean (936 kg ha−1), maize equivalent yield (6850 kg ha−1). Nutrient uptake of N, P2O5 and K2O by both the crops was significantly higher in sole crop, compared to intercropped treatment. Whereas, zinc treatments did not show any significant variation in uptake of N, P2O5 and K2O by maize and soybean crop. The balance nutrient status of P2O5 and K2O in soil after crop harvest has shown decreasing trend in all cropping systems and zinc levels. However, increasing trend was found in zinc status. Similarly, ‘N’ enrichment was noticed in intercropping systems only and decreasing in sole cropping.