Maize-pea intercropping as influenced by planting system and row arrangement

An experiment on maize/pea intercropping was conducted during rabi season of 2004-05 to find out suitable planting system for higher productivity and economic return. Two and four rows of pea (BARI motorshuti-1 and IPSA motorshuti-1) were intercropped with normal and paired row maize, respectively. Planting systems and row arrangement significantly influenced pea yield in intercropping. Significantly highest maize (8.81 t/ha) and pea yields (7.57 t/ha and 4.47 t/ha) were obtained from their respective sole crops. BARI motorshuti-1 gave higher yield than IPSA motorshuti-1 both in sole and intercrop treatments. Although intercropping reduced maize yields by 20 to 30 % in different treatments but with the addition of pea yields intercropping increased total productivity, which is expressed through higher maize equivalent yield (MEY) and land equivalent ratio (LER). The highest MEY (12.74 t/ha) was obtained when 4 rows of BARI motorshuti-1 was intercropped with paired row maize. This treatment also gave highest LER (1.20), gross return (Tk. 106375/ha), net return (Tk. 79365/ha), and benefit cost ratio (3.85).