ABSTRACT
Intercropping
of legumes and cereals, an old practice since ancient civilization, plays
pivotal role to increase land use efficiency, improve income and food production per unit area and minimize the risks
of crop failure for small scale farmers. Thus, field experiment was conducted
to determine the effect of intercropping of legumes and rates of
nitrogen fertilizer on yield and yield components of maize (Zea
mays L.). The experiment consisted of 0, 23, 46, 69
and 92 kg·N·ha-1 and sole maize, maize + commom bean, maize + common bean - mung
bean cropping systems with Random Complete Block Design factorial experiment in three replications
using maize variety, “BH-140”, common bean variety (Hawassadume) and mung bean variety. Maximum plant heights, dry matter and grain yield, were observed from sole cropped maize and maize + common
bean, when applying 92 kg·N·ha-1. Significantly higher
total Land Equivalent Ratio of 2.2, Gross Monetary Value of 87,191 birr ha-1,
Monetary Advantage of 47,068.2 Birr ha-1,
total productivity (80,568.49 birr) and net
return (55,214.0 birr) were recorded from maize + common bean - mung bean. The,
maximum marginal rate of return was obtained from maize + common bean - mung
bean and applying 69 kg·N·ha-1 (1080%). Thus,
farmers should be advised to practice cropping of maize + common bean - mung with 69 kg·N·ha-1 to get economical maize production.