Effect of Varieties and Population of Intercropped Soybean with Maize on Yield and Yield components at Haro Sabu, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

The field experiment was carried out at Haro Sabu Agriculture Research Center, during 2013 with the objectives of determining the effect of varieties and population densities of soybean intercropped with maize on yield and yield components of associated cr productivity of the system. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with three replication in factorial combination of three soybean varieties (Boshe, Ethio and three soybean plant populations (25%, 50% and 75%) along with respec crop of soybean varieties and maize BHQPY soybean varieties significantly (P<0.05) affected number of ears per plant, thousand kernel weight and HI of maize. The higher number of ears per plant (2.30), thousand kernels weight (243.88 g) and HI (38.11%) were obtained from 25% soybean population. The highest number of ears per plant (2.31) was obtained from intercropping of maize with soybean variety Boshe. Maize grain yield was significantly (interaction of main effects. The highest maize grain yield (7.33 t ha the combination of 50% soybean population of variety Boshe. Sole cropped maize gave significantly higher number of kernels per ear, biological yield, grain yield and HI than the respective intercrop. Biological yield and grain yield of soybean were significantly (P<0.01) affected by soybean varieties. Biological yield (5.53t ha ha-1) of soybean was recorded for variety Didesa. Plant population and soybea significantly (P<0.01) affected number of pod per plant. plant (50 and 45) was obtained from 25% soybean population and variety Boshe, respectively. Number of pod per plant also significantly (system. The higher grain yield (2.09t ha-1) was obtained from soybean population of 75%. Considering the experimental findings intercropping of maize with 50% soybean population and Didesa Variety was recommended for the study area.