Maize (Zea mays) Intercropping with Legumes Enhances Growth, Dry Matter and its Forage Yield under Deficit Irrigation

Abstract

Climate change is one of the serious threats to agriculture and livestock. Climate change induced and reduced water shortage lowers production of food and fodder crops. In order to investigate the effects of deficit irrigation on forage yield of maize (Zea mays L.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), and guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) grown as sole or intercropping of maize with cowpea and guar, the fields experiments were conducted during spring 2016 and 2017 in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement. These crops were further exposed to water deficit by skipping irrigation at crop stages following maize growth scale at 15 days (V4), 30 days (V6), 45 days (V9), and 60 days (V12) after sowing along with normal irrigation. Maize intercropped with guar had maximum leaf area, plant height land equivalent ratio and monetary advantage index at normal irrigation but did not differ significantly under deficit irrigation. Thus, maize intercropped with guar was found more productive and beneficial with respect to sole under deficit irrigation.