Influence of intercropping system and integrated nitrogen management in maize (popcorn) (Zea mays everta L.) - chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) intercropping under middle Gujarat conditions

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Farm, Anand Agricultural University, Anand to find out influence of intercropping system and integrated nitrogen management in maize (popcorn) (Zea mays everta L.) - chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) intercropping during rabi season of 2017-18 and 2018-19. There were sixteen treatment combinations comprised of four intercropping systems viz., S1: maize sole, S2: chickpea sole S3: maize - chickpea 1:1 and S4: maize - chickpea 2:2 placed as main plot treatments and four integrated nitrogen management viz., N1: 100 % RDN (Recommended Dose of Nitrogen), N2: 75 % RDN + 25 % vermicompost N3: 75 % RDN + 25 % FYM and N4 : 50 % RDN + 25 % vermicompost + 25 % FYM set as sub plot treatments in split plot design with four replications. The soil of experimental plot was loamy sand in texture. The soil was low in available nitrogen and medium in available phosphorous and in potash. Results revealed that maize crop intercropped with chickpea with 1:1 ratio recorded significantly higher cob length, cob girth, weight of cob, number of grains/cob, grain yield and stover yield of maize, and significantly higher plant height, number of nodules/plant, number of pods /plant, seed yield, dry fodder yield and harvest index of chickpea and higher maize equivalent yield. Integrated nitrogen management had remarkable impact on growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of maize - chickpea intercropping and significantly higher plant height, cob length, cob girth, weight of cob, number of grains /cob, grain yield, stover yield, protein content of maize, and number of nodules/plant, number of pods/plant, seed yield and haulm yield, harvest index, protein content of chickpea as well as maize equivalent yield were obtained with the crops fertilized with 50 % RDN + 25 % vermicompost + 25 % FYM.