EFFECT OF FERTILITY LEVELS ON MAIZE (ZEA-MAYS)+LEGUME INTERCROPPING SYSTEM UNDER RAIN-FED CONDITION

A field experiment was ocnducted during the rainy seasons of 1986-88 to evaluate fertilizer application and economics of some locally important intercropping systems. Maize (Zea mays L.) was supplied with 50, 75 and 100% of the recommanded fertilizer levals, whereas blackgram (Phaseolus mungo L.) and hoursegram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdcourt] were supplied with 0, 50 and 100% of the recommended fertilizer levesl in intercroping systems. Though maize yield was decreased when intercropped with horsegram but generally gave higher maize-equivalent yield than maize + blackgram system. For obtaining higher net returns, no fertilizer should be applied to blackgram but additional 50% of recommended fertilizer to horsegram should be applied in maize + horsegram intercropping system.