Effect of Intercropping and Plant Geometry of Maize (Zea mays L.) Intercropped with Mungbean (Vigna radiate L.) on Growth and Yield Characters

Cereal legume intercropping specifically maize- green gram is known for its ability to improve soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen through legume crop resulting in higher relative yield, LER, ATER and BC ratio which strengthens’ the economy and ensure food security for majority of the world’s population. A field experiment was carried out during summer season, 2024, at Kunar Salarbagh, Afghanistan to study the effects of intercropping and plant geometry on growth and yield characters of Maize (Zea mays L.) and Mungbean (Vigna radiate L.) crops.The Buraq and Nayab varieties of maize and mungbean comprised the study material. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with eight treatments replicated thrice with each experimental unit/plot having a 3m x 3m (9 m2) net area. The treatmental details were as following; T1= Broadcast Maize ,T2= Broadcast Mungbean, T3= Only Maize row to row and Plant to Plant spacing =30×20 cm,T4= Only Mungbean Row to row and Plant to Plant spacing =30×15cm,T5= Maize Row to Row spacing 40×20 cm with one Row of Mungbean as intercrop,T6= Maize Row to Row spacing 50×20 cm with two Rows of Mungbean as intercrop,T7= Maize Row to Row spacing 60×20 cm with three Rows of Mungbean as intercrop,T8= Maize Row to Row spacing 80×20 cm with four Rows of Mungbean as intercrop.The experimental finding revealed that sole maize and mungbean crops were superior in growth and yield parameters while in intercropping T8 treatment resulted in significantly higher LER in intercropping system (1.66), ATER (1.50) and maize equivalent yield (12584.75 kg ha-1) followed by T7, T6 and T5 treatments where the lowest LER (1.47) and maize equivalent yield (8428.23 kg/ha) were observed in T5.