Evaluation of maize based intercropping system under dryland situation at Bastar plateau zone of Chhattisgarh

The present research entitled “Evaluation of Maize based Intercropping System under Dryland Situation at Bastar Plateau Zone of Chhattisgarh” was conducted at Research Cum Instructional Farm, S.G. College of Agriculture and Research Station, Jagdalpur, IGKV, Chhattisgarh during Kharif 2023. The experiment was laid out in RBD with three replications. The treatments comprised of T1: Maize Sole, T2: Cowpea Sole, T3: Pigeon pea Sole, T4: Jhudga Sole, T5: Maize + Cowpea (4:2), T6: Maize + Pigeon pea (4:2), T7: Maize + Jhudga (4:2). With respect to biological efficiency, the intercropping system of Maize + Cowpea (T5) exhibited the highest values for ATER and LER, followed by Maize + Jhudga (T7) and Maize + Pigeon pea (T6). It also recorded the highest system productivity and MGEY among all treatments. The highest level of aggressivity was observed in the Maize + Pigeon pea (T6) intercropping system, followed by Maize + Jhudga (T7) and Maize + Cowpea (T5). Among the various intercropping systems, the intercropping treatment Maize + Cowpea (T5) had a significantly higher gross return and net return in terms of economics. This was followed by Maize + Jhudga (T7) and Maize + Pigeonpea (T6). Cowpea-sole (T2) had the best benefit cost ratio of any sole crop, while maize-sole (T1) had the highest net returns and gross returns.