Maize and sorghum - prospective intercrops in Malaysian plantations.

In a discussion of the agronomy of maize and sorghum in West Malaysia, experiments on soil type, spacing, fertilizers, weed control and pests and diseases are described. Highest grain yields were obtained at between-row spacing of 18 and 24 in with both maize and sorghum and within-row spacing of 9 in with maize and 2-4 in with sorghum. Grain yields of maize and sorghum were increased significantly by applying 10 lb atrazine/ac pre-emergence and at 50 days after sowing. Yields were significantly increased by ammonium sulphate at rates up to 250 kg N/ha, split applications giving higher yields than a single application at sowing. It was concluded that maize and sorghum may be suitable as intercrops for oil palm and other plantation crops during the period before bearing