Effect of Drip Fertigation and Intercropping on Growth, Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Maize (Zea mays L.) 238
-
Author:S. Anitta Fanish and P. Muthukrishnan
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:98, Issue:jul-sep
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.100285
Abstract
Field experiments were conducted during kharif 2008 and 2009 at Tamil Nadu agricultural
University, Coimbatore to study the effect of drip fertigation on growth, yield and economics
of intensive maize based intercropping system. During kharif 2008, drip fertigated maize at
150 per cent RDF recorded significantly higher grain yield of 7338 kg ha-1 , whereas during
kharif 2009, higher grain yield of 7464 kg ha -1 was recorded under drip fertigation of 100 per
cent RDF with 50 per cent P and K as Water soluble fertilizer (WSF). Among the different
intercropping systems, radish intercropped with maize registered a higher maize grain
equivalent yield (MEY) of 11153 kg ha -1 . Drip irrigation helped to save the water upto 43 per cent
compared to surface irrigation besides enhancing the water use efficiency.
Key words : Drip fertigation, maize, water use efficiency