Abstract
Intercropping, a sustainable agricultural practice, is pivotal in enhancing land use efficiency, soil fertility, and overall crop productivity. This study zeroes in on the dynamics of Maize-Cowpea intercropping in the Alluvial Zone of West Bengal, a region characterized by its fertile soil and diverse agro-ecological conditions. The practice of intercropping, particularly in regions like West Bengal, holds immense potential in revolutionizing traditional farming methods by maximizing yield per unit area while ensuring sustainability. The study aims to unravel the complexities and benefits of this practice, especially in the context of the monsoon dependent Kharif season, which is crucial for agricultural productivity in the region. The study aims to evaluate the effects of various Maize-Cowpea intercropping patterns and nutrient management strategies on maize growth, yield, and quality during the Kharif seasons of 2019 and 2020. It hypothesizes that intercropping, combined with optimal nutrient management, can significantly enhance maize performance. Employing a split-plot design, the study analysed 25 treatment combinations of intercropping and nitrogen fertilization under sub-tropical sub-humid conditions. Advanced quantitative methods, including regression analysis and principal component analysis (PCA), were used to assess the interactions between intercropping systems and nutrient management practices. The findings revealed that while sole maize cultivation showed better growth and yield, Maize-Cowpea intercropping, especially in a 1:1 row ratio, significantly increased the total system yield by 13.6%. This method also improved grain quality, notably enhancing crude protein content and nutrient percentage. A combination of 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through chemical means with 25% RDN through organic sources, including seaweed, was particularly effective in boosting maize performance. The study confirms the superior performance of Kharif maize in an intercropping setup, particularly when integrated with cowpea. It demonstrates the effectiveness of specific nutrient management strategies in enhancing both quantitative and qualitative traits of maize. This research significantly contributes to the field of sustainable agriculture, particularly in the context of field crops research and practice. The findings offer valuable insights for enhancing crop productivity and sustainability in similar agro-ecological regions globally. The study underscores the benefits of integrating legumes with cereals in intercropping systems, paving the way for innovative agricultural practices that can meet the dual challenges of food security and environmental sustainability. The implications of this research are far-reaching, providing a robust framework for future agricultural strategies in regions facing similar climatic and soil conditions.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Sole maize cultivation showed better growth.
- Treatment
- sole maize cultivatione0
- Outcome
- growthe0
- Direction
- bettere0
- Comparator
- Maize-Cowpea intercroppinge0
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The findings revealed that while sole maize cultivation showed better growth and yield, Maize-Cowpea intercropping, especially in a 1:1 row ratio, significantly increased the total system yield by 13.6%”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Sole maize cultivation showed better yield.
- Treatment
- sole maize cultivatione0
- Outcome
- yielde0
- Direction
- bettere0
- Comparator
- Maize-Cowpea intercroppinge0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The findings revealed that while sole maize cultivation showed better growth and yield, Maize-Cowpea intercropping, especially in a 1:1 row ratio, significantly increased the total system yield by 13.6%”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping at 1:1 increased system yield by 13.6%.
- Treatment
- Maize-Cowpea intercropping, especially in a 1:1 row ratioe0
- Outcome
- total system yielde0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 13.6%e0
- Comparator
- sole maize cultivatione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The findings revealed that while sole maize cultivation showed better growth and yield, Maize-Cowpea intercropping, especially in a 1:1 row ratio, significantly increased the total system yield by 13.6%”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping enhanced crude protein content.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This method also improved grain quality, notably enhancing crude protein content and nutrient percentage”
e1“The findings revealed that while sole maize cultivation showed better growth and yield, Maize-Cowpea intercropping, especially in a 1:1 row ratio, significantly increased the total system yield by 13.6%”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping enhanced nutrient percentage.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This method also improved grain quality, notably enhancing crude protein content and nutrient percentage”
e1“The findings revealed that while sole maize cultivation showed better growth and yield, Maize-Cowpea intercropping, especially in a 1:1 row ratio, significantly increased the total system yield by 13.6%”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Combined chemical and organic nitrogen boosted maize performance.
- Treatment
- 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through chemical means with 25% RDN through organic sources, including seaweede0
- Outcome
- maize performancee0
- Direction
- boostinge0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“A combination of 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through chemical means with 25% RDN through organic sources, including seaweed, was particularly effective in boosting maize performance”
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