Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during the 2008 and 2009 cropping season at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to study the effect of drip fertigation on water use efficiency in intensive maize (Zea mays L.) based intercropping system. In 2008, drip fertigated maize at 150%  recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) recorded significantly higher grain yield of 7.3 t ha^-1. Whereas in 2009, higher grain yields of 7.5 t ha^-1was recorded under drip fertigation of 100% RDF with 50% P and K as water soluble fertilizer (WSF). Drip irrigation helps to save the water up to 43% compared to surface irrigation besides enhancing the water use efficiency. The highest net return (Rs 56858) and B:C ratio (3.24)  was obtained under drip fertigation of 150% RDF + radish as intercrop combination. It is inferred that drip fertigation once in three days at 100% RDF with 50% P and K as water soluble fertilizer enhanced the productivity of maize-based intercropping system. Considering the high cost of water soluble fertilizers, drip fertigation of 150% RDF with radish as intercrop could be an alternative option to realize a reasonably good yield and income in maize-based intercropping system.

Key words: Drip fertigation, intercropping, maize grain equivalent yield (MEY), water use efficiency (WUE).