Optimizing Nutrient Management and Economic in Sweet Corn-vegetable Intercropping for Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

This research examined nutrient management approaches in sweet corn (Zea mays L. saccharata) intercropped with root and bulb vegetables during the rabi season of 2020 at S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. The study employed a split-plot design with three intercropping combinations (sweet corn with knol khol, radish and onion) as main plots and four fertilizer levels (100% RDF for sweet corn only, 100% RDF for sweet corn plus 75% RDF to intercrop, 100% RDF for sweet corn plus 50% RDF to intercrop and 100% RDF for sweet corn plus 25% RDF for the intercrop) as sub-plots, with three replications. Findings revealed that intercropping sweet corn with radish, along with application of 100% RDF for sweet corn and 75% RDF for radish, recorded the highest sweet corn equivalent yield (18589 kg ha-1), gross returns (₹3,09,586 ha-1), net returns (₹2,42,225 ha-1) and benefit-cost ratio (4.59). The lowest sweet corn equivalent yield (12842 kg ha-1), gross returns ((₹1,83,828 ha-1), net returns ((₹1,17,571 ha-1) and B:C (2.77) ratios were observed in sweet corn + onion with 100% RDF to sweet corn alone. These findings highlighted the potential of sweet corn-vegetable intercropping systems to enhance land use efficiency, improve farm profitability and promote sustainable farming practices in south India, offering useful Insights for farmers and policy makers.