Intercropping of different leafy vegetables in Rabi sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata L.)

The experiment was conducted at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Ganeshkhind, Pune during the rabi seasons of 2020, 2021 and 2022 to evaluate the performance of intercropping of leafy vegetables in sweet corn. The experiment comprised of seven treatments viz., Sweet corn + Fenugreek (1:4) Sweet corn + Spinach (1:4) Sweet corn + Coriander (1:4) Sweet corn +Safflower (1:4) Sweet corn + Dill (1:4) Sweet corn + Amaranthus (1:4) Sole Sweet corn with three replications. Results revealed that significantly higher cob yield and green fodder yield (16.92 t ha-1 and 25.82 t ha-1, respectively) was recorded in Sole Sweet corn followed by intercropping of Sweet corn + Fenugreek (1:4), Sweet corn + Dill (1:4) and Sweet corn + Coriender (1:4) during three years pooled results. Higher intercrop yield (21.93 t ha-1) was recorded by Safflower in Sweet corn + Safflower (1:4) intercropping system followed by Spinach in Sweet corn + Spinach (1:4) intercropping. Significantly higher Sweet corn Equivalent Yield (25.30 t ha-1) was recorded in Sweet corn + Safflower (1:4) intercropping in pooled results which was found at par with intercropping of Sweet corn + Spinach (1:4) (T2), Sweet and Sweet corn + Fenugreek (1:4). In pooled results significantly higher system net returns (Rs. 390247/-) was recorded in Sweet corn + Fenugreek (1:4) which was found at par with Sweet corn + Spinach (1:4), Sweet corn + Dill (1:4) and Sweet corn +Safflower (1:4). While intercropping of Sweet corn +Spinach (1:4) recorded higher B: C ratio (4.14) followed by Sweet corn + Dill (1:4) and Sweet corn +Safflower (1:4).