Abstract

In order to investigate the yield benefits and financial gains associated with the variable row arrangements of french beans as intercropping within the base crop maize, an experiment was carried out at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during rabi season between October to April. The research comprised eight treatments: T1 (sole maize), T2 (sole french bean), T3 (one row of maize followed by two rows of french bean intercropping), T4 (one row of maize followed by three rows of french bean intercropping), T5 (one row of maize followed by four rows of french bean intercropping), T6 (two rows of maize followed by two rows of french bean intercropping), T7 (two rows of maize followed by three rows of french bean intercropping), and T8 (two rows of maize followed by four rows of french bean intercropping). The results show that the systems of intercropping maize and french beans had a substantial impact on the seed production of maize. The highest seed yield was obtained from T1 (sole maize) (8.56 t/ha). In intercropping situation the highest seed yield (5.66 t/ha) was obtained from T8 (two rows of maize followed by four rows of french bean intercropping and the lowest seed yield (3.64t/ha) was obtained from the T3 (one row of maize followed by two rows of french bean intercropping). The treatment T1 (single maize) had the highest maize equivalent yield (8560 kg/ha). The maximum LER was obtained from treatment T8, which consisted of one row of maize interplanted with four rows of french beans. Economic analysis of the various treatments revealed that T8 (two rows of maize followed by four rows of french bean intercropping) had the highest gross return (202160 Tk/ha), the highest net return (96759 Tk/ha), and the highest BCR (1.92). Thus, according to the current analysis, the most advantageous intercropping strategy in terms of yield and financial gain is to plant two rows of maize with four rows of french beans.

Key words: Intercropping, maize, French bean, row