Impacts of Cropping Systems on Normalized Difference Vegetative Index and Soil Moisture in Maize-Bean Crops

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the three leading staple cereal crops worldwide along with rice and wheat. Conservation agricultural practices (CA) may conserve the limiting natural resources especially soil moisture and soil nutrients. Optical sensor has been proven to be an effective tool for monitoring management. In season monitoring of agricultural crop conditions using normalized differentiated vegetative index (NDVI) and soil water during crop growth stage is very important. This field experiment was done at Melkassa agricultural research center during the rainy season of 2018 1nd 2019 to study the impacts of cropping systems on normalized difference vegetative index and soil moisture in maize-bean crops. Split plot treatment design with three replication was used. Two tillage levels were assigned to the main plots and four maize-legume systems were assigned to the sub plots. NDVI of maize at vegetative and tasselling stage were significantly affected by tillage types, and tillage x cropping system interaction. However, NDVI of maize at grain filling stage was significantly affected by tillage types only. At maize vegetative and tasselling stage NDVI was higher for conventional crop production practice (CP) than CA practice. At maize grain filling stage NDVI was become higher for conservational practice. Soil moisture content at different depth was greater for maize bean rotation under conservation agricultural practice.