Effects of Maize and Mung Bean Intercropping on Performance of the Component Crops and System Productivity

Abstract

Interaction effect of variety by cropping system is expected to be arising from morphological features of component crops thus Selection of  compatible varieties of component crops can increase productivity of intercropping systems. Hence, a field experiment was carried out at two  locations to identify the best compatible varieties of maize and mung bean that can increase the performance of the component crops and the  productivity of the intercropping system. Factorial combinations of intercropping of three varieties of maize (Melkassa^-1, Melkassa^-2, Melkassa-6Q)  and three varieties of mung bean (N-26/Rassa, NVL1, Shewa Robbit) with their respective sole crops were laid out as a randomized complete block  design with three replications. The result showed that location and variety had a significant effect on growth parameters and yield components of  maize and mung bean intercrops. The higher grain yield (4.1t ha^-1) was recorded from Melkassa Agricultural Research Center site. Regarding  varieties, the highest maize grain yield (4.8t ha^-1) was obtained from variety Melkassa^-2 intercropped with mung bean variety-26. The higher grain  yield of intercropped mung bean was (530 kg ha^-1) recorded from Melkassa Agricultural Recearch Center. Among the different intercropping  combinations, intercropping maize variety Melkassa-2 with mung bean variety N-26 had the highest Land Equivalent Ratio (1.57), maize equivalent  yield (6390kg ha^-1) and monetary value (63900 ETBha^-1). Intercropping resulted in the highest Land Equivalent Ratio ( LER) (1.30), maize equivalent  yield (5270 kg ha^-1) and Gross Monetary Value (56300 ETB ha^-1). Thus, maize variety Melkassa^-2 with mung bean variety N-26 can be used as  compatible varieties of component crops to maximize the productivity of the intercropping system in drylands of central and eastern Ethiopia.