Improving Maize Yield and Soil Productivity through N Management Practices in Maize-legume Intercropping

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of maize intercropping and nitrogen management on crop productivity. The study comprised two factors: maize intercropping with five treatments (sole maize, skipped row maize, and maize intercropped with greengram, blackgram, or cluster bean) and nitrogen management with three treatments (100%, 75%, and 50% of the recommended nitrogen dose). The results showed that sole maize at 60 x 20 cm spacing and maize intercropped with cluster bean, blackgram, or greengram significantly outyielded sole maize in skipped rows. Applying nitrogen at the full recommended dose (100%) significantly enhanced maize yields, while the cluster bean intercropping system excelled in terms of maize grain equivalent yield and land equivalent ratio. The study highlights the potential of maize intercropping and optimized nitrogen management to enhance crop productivity, reduce soil nutrient depletion, and promote sustainable agriculture practices.