Yields of Maize and Multiple Advantages of Pigeon Pea in Maize Intercropping at Bako, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Maize highly depletes nutrients in maize monocropping system and the situation is more serious when crop residues are continuously removed from the farmland. Consequently, the return from inorganic fertilizers application alone in the system is seasonal, requiring amendment of nutrients removed from the soil and retention of yield declined due to nutrient depletion. This experiment was executed at Bako in 2013, 2014 and 2015 main cropping seasons with the objective of evaluating the effect of branch removal of perennial pigeon pea and N level on yields of maize, on soil moisture and bulk density dynamics in maize/pigeon pea intercropping system. The treatments consisted of maize/pigeon pea intercropping in factorial combinations of four pigeon pea branch removals while leaving the upper (0, 2, 4 and 6) and five nitrogen levels (18, 41, 64, 87 and 110 kg ha^-1) and sole maize monoculture laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Main effects due to pigeon pea branch removal and N level were significant for maize dry biomass yield during 2013 and 2014 and also significant for maize grain yield throughout the experimental periods. Removal of lower branches of pigeon pea while leaving the upper 2 in maize/pigeon pea intercropping increased grain yield of maize by 8% and produced higher dry biomass yield presumably due to taller maize plants which took relatively longer days to mature. Significantly increased soil moisture and reduced soil bulk density compared to the sole maize monoculture was obtained due to removal of lower branches of pigeon pea while leaving the upper 2 in maize/pigeon pea intercropping system. Higher dry biomass yield pigeon pea can be used as feed sources during feed shortage seasons. Hence, the system increased maize productivity at reduced N level, it is recommended for its maximization of crop and land productivity in the sub-humid maize based monocropping system of Bako and similar agro ecologies.