Effect of legume intercropping and foliar spray of zinc and iron on maize

Abstract

Intercropping is growing two or more crops simultaneously on a piece of land to harness the efficient use of resources to increase per unit land productivity. Maize being a wide row crop provides ample scope to accommodate short duration crops as intercrop. Legume crops are good option to be grown as intercrops in the rows of maize. A two-year experiment was conducted at Agriculture Research farm, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi in Kharif season to study the effect of foliar spray of zinc and iron on maize + legume intercropping. The experiment was laid out in split plot design in three replications. Legume intercrops were assigned in main plots whereas foliar treatments in subplot. Three legume intercrops and four foliar treatments were taken. A total of 12 combinations were allocated randomly in the plots. To evaluate growth of maize data for plant height, dry matter accumulation and Leaf Area Index was calculated at regular time intervals. Experimental findings proved that maize intercropped with cowpea along with foliar spray of 2% ZnSO4 and 2% FeSO4 at 30 DAS and 60 DAS results into highest growth of maize in Varanasi.