An experiment was conducted during 2003–05 to assess
the production potential, biological and economic feasibility
of intercropping maize with blackgram in different row
proportions under rainfed conditions. Intercropping
blackgram with maize, irrespective of row arrangements was
found to be beneficial in increasing the system’s total
productivity and yield advantage to the tune of 9.3–48.0%
under different intercropping systems compared to
monocultures of both maize and blackgram. Among the
intercropping systems, maize (50 cm) with blackgram in 1 : 1
row proportion was proved to be the most efficient,
productive and remunerative as it gave the highest mean
maize equivalent yield (3 430 kg/ha) and also accounted for highest values for land equivalent ratio (1.34), relative
crowding co-efficient (4.49), area-time equivalent ratio
(1.23), income equivalent ratio (1.52), sustainability yield
index (0.90), production efficiency (36.9 kg/ha/day), net
returns (8.54×103 Rs/ha) and B: C ratio (1.78) compared to
other intercropping systems, thus, can be suggested as a
biological and economically sustainable intercropping system
for higher productivity and profitability under rainfed
conditions. Magnitude of reduction in yield of the base crop
due to intercropping of blackgram was the highest (41.8–
46.2%) when maize was widely planted either at 75 or 90
cm in 1: 2 row ratios as against the 21.8–27.1% for maize
planted at 50/60 cm in 1: 1 row proportion. Paired row
planting showed yield reduction to the extent of 29.0–29.8%.PAU Ludhian
