Effect of Drip Fertigation and Intercropping on Growth, Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Maize (Zea mays L.) 238

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.