Nitrogen fertilizer application to optimize growth and land productivity of intercropped Longe 10Hmaize and Nabe 15 bean in eastern Uganda

Abstract

Maize yield improvement on nutrient depleted soils has relied primarily on application of expensive hard to get fertilizers. Augmenting this approach with exploitation of the ecological benefits of cereal-legume intercropping is considered a more sustainable option. The effect of nitrogen fertilizer application on growth and land productivity of intercropped Longe 10H maize and NABE 15 bean was evaluated in the field. Experiments with treatments laid in Randomised Complete Block Design and replicated thrice, were conducted during two cropping seasons at National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI), Serere district, Uganda. Maize growth, yield and land equivalent ratio (LER) of Longe 10H maize + NABE 15 bean intercrop were assessed. Results showed generally higher maize plant height, biomass and grain yield in fertilized intercrop plots compared to unfertilized plots during both season 1 and season 2, in addition to LER > 1 for all the fertilized intercrop plots. Nitrogen fertilizer application showed a degree of improving maize growth, grain yield and land efficiency of Longe 10H maize + NABE 15 bean intercrop. However, further studies involving several nitrogen fertilizer levels, different intercrop plant populations and planting geometries of Longe 10H maize + NABE 15 bean intercrop, and other agroecological zones that grow these crop varieties are necessary.