Vol. 11, Special Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
Ram Kumar and PV Singh

Abstract:
Intercropping is a breakthrough in land use optimization. This work objective is to study the effects of different land slopes and cropping pattern on, growth and yield of maize and soybean in the Tarai belt of the Himalayas, Uttarakhand, India. Three different land slopes (2, 5 and 8%) and four different cropping patterns (sole maize (M), intercropping of one row of maize and soybean (M1+S1), intercropping of two rows of maize and soybean (M2+S2) and with the control treatment i.e. bare). The results found to be plant height of maize and soybean at 30 DAS was observed highest (129.33 and 34.05 cm) in when cultivated intercropping (M2+S2) and lowest (125.80 and 33.02 cm) and intercropping (M1+S1) at 2% slope. Same trend has been observed for 5 and 8% slope i.e. intercropping of (M2+S2) intercropping of (M1+S1) at 60 and 90 DAS of maize and soybean. The yield of maize and soybean was observed highest (40.87 and 18.50 q/ha) in when cultivated intercropping (M2+S2) and lowest (30.57 and 15.90 q/ha) and intercropping (M1+S1) at 2% slope. Same trend has been observed for 5 and 8% slope i.e. intercropping of (M2+S2) intercropping of (M1+S1) of maize and soybean. The growth of maize and soybean was found to be decreasing with the increase in land slopes for all cropping systems. Grain yield of maize was found highest for sole maize while lowest for intercropping of two rows of maize and soybean.