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Growth and Yield of Intercropped Groundnut and Maize
Thesis Abstract:
The effect of intercropping maize on growth and yield of groundnut at different row ratios was determined. Suitable intercropping patterns and the advantages ofintercrop over monocrop were also assessed. BPI-Pn2 groundnut variety and IPB var 7 maize variety with similar growth duration were grown at different row ratios in a replacement intercrop.
Growth and yield of groundnut were adversely affected by intercrop. Groundnut plants were taller, less-branched, and lower in total dry matter weight (TOW), leaf area index (LAI), net assimilation rate (NAR), crop growth rate (CGR), and plant yield (PY) than sole ground nut. In contrast, intercropping benefited maize as indicated by its increased TOW, LAI, CGR, and PY.
Seed yield per groundnut plant was reduced by intercropping as a result of reduced number of pods per plant. On the other hand, seed yield of maize increased in all intercrop treatments. Harvest index and shelling percentage of the two crops were slightly affected by intercropping.
Chlorophyll content of groundnut was also affected by maize shading. Increases in total chlorophyll content and ratio of Ca/Cb were observed.
Land equivalent ratio (LER) was greater than one in all intercropping treatments. The highest value of 1.40 was obtained from T6 (3:1 groundnut to maize row ratio), followed by T7. These two treatments also had higher marginal rate of return (MRR) and return on investment (ROI) than the others.
Results showed that BPI-Pn2 ground nut variety can be intercropped with maize. However, only 3:1 and 3:2 row ratio are recommended under dry season conditions based on LER and MRR.