Effect of Intercropping Maize and Beans on the Maize Yields in Isingiro Town Council, Isingiro District, South Western Uganda

Abstract

The study aimed at determination of the effect of intercropping maize and beans on the maize yields Isingiro Town Council, Isingiro District, South Western Uganda. The study used a randomized complete block (RCBD) experiment in which 8 treatments in 4 replicas of each to make a total of 32 sub-plots. Two rows of maize spaced at 4.5cm within rows and 90cm between rows were intercropped with two rows of velvet beans spaced at 30cm with rows and 90cm between rows. Two rows of NABE16 spaced at 4.5cm within rows and 75cm between rows were intercropped with maize a pacing of 5.5cm within rows and 75cm between rows. Rows of beans were separated from those of maize by 75cm in a 10m by 8m sub-plot. The experiment was conducted in two seasons (March to May 2020 and August to November 2021). Standard agronomical practices were followed from planting to harvesting, after which dry maize grain weight was taken and recorded. Data analysis was done using ONE WAY ANOVA in STATA version 13. Results show that the significant statistical difference in season one (p = 0.0000)** was higher than that in season two (p = 0.0211)*. The study concluded that unpredictable (too much or too little) rainfall negatively affects maize productivity. Early planting and application of organic fertilizers were recommended to improve maize productivity.

Assessing the Nutritional Effect of Lupinus montanus on Zea mays HS-2 (Intercropping) and Identification of Nodular Bacteria through the Use of Rhizotrons

“…The practices of intercropping is an agricultural production strategy that is principally based on the growth of two or more species on a unit of land where a total or partial combination of cycles occurs [17]. In this vein, the maize-leguminous combinations generally exceed the performance of maize monocultures; in other words, maize monocultures require a greater surface area to produce the same yield as one hectare of policulture [3,[18][19][20][21][22].…”