ISSN 2167-0447
International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 3 (5), pp. 538-543, July, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Water productivity and profitability of maize under drip fertigation in intensive maize based intercropping system
S Anitta Fanish
Department of Agronomy,Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore , Tamil Nadu– 641 003, India.
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 8 April, 2013
Abstract
Field experiments were conducted during 2008 and 2009 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University; Coimbatore to study the effect of drip fertigation in intensive maize (Zea mays L.) based intercropping system. During 2008, drip fertigated maize at 150 per cent RDF recorded significantly higher grain yield of 7.3 t ha-1. Whereas during 2009, higher grain yields of 7.5 t ha-1 was recorded under drip fertigation of 100 per cent RDF with 50 per cent P and K as Water Soluble Fertilizer (WSF). Drip irrigation helps to save the water upto 43 per cent compared to surface irrigation besides enhancing the water use efficiency. A higher net return (Rs 56858) and B:C ratio (3.24) was obtained under drip fertigation of 150 per cent RDF + radish as intercrop combination. It is inferred that drip fertigation once in three days at 100 per cent RDF with 50 per cent P and K as water soluble fertilizer could enhance the productivity of maize based intercropping system. Considering the high cost of water soluble fertilizers, drip fertigation of 150 per cent RDF with radish as intercrop could be an alternative option to realize a reasonably good yield and income in maize based intercropping system.
Key words: Drip fertigation, intercropping, maize, maize grain equivalent yield (MEY), WUE, Water Soluble Fertilizer.