PERFORMANCE OF MAIZE UNDER IPIL-IPIL AND GHORA NEEM BASED AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in the Agroforestry Research Field, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology university, Dinajpur, during 15 January 2011 to 22 may, 2011 in order to investigate the performance of different maize variety under Ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala), and Ghora neem (Melia azedarach) woodlot. The experiment was consisted of RCBD two factors with four replications. Between the two factors, one factor was three production systems: So=Sole cropping of maize, S,=Ipil-ipil +maize, S>= Ghora neemt+ maize; another factor was three maize variety: V;= Hero, V2= Kanok, V3= Super. So, there were nine treatment combinations and those were: V;So= Sole cropping of Hero maize variety V;Si= Ipil-ipil + Hero maize variety, V;S.= Ghora neem +Hero maize variety, V2Sg= Sole cropping of Kanok maize variety, V2S;= Ipil-ipil + Kanok maize variety, V2S.= Ghora neem + Kanok maize variety, V3So= Sole cropping of Super maize variety, V3S,= Ipil-ipil + Super maize variety and V3S,=Ghora neem + Kanok maize variety. The experimental results revealed that the main effect of variety on growth, yield contributing characters and yield of maize were significantly varied each other. The highest yield (14.37tha') was recorded in Hero maize variety whereas lowest yield (8.74tha’') of maize was recorded in Super maize variety. Again, maize grown in open sunlight condition exhibited considerably highest plant height & maximum number of leaves than other two production system. Longest length of leaves was observed (42.25 inch) in sole and shortest length of leaves (41.83 inch) was observed in Ghora neem + maize based Agroforestry system. Highest leaf breadth (3.16 inch) was found in sole cropping system and the shortest leaf (3.03 inch) was recorded in Ipil-ipil + maize based Agroforestry system. Again, the yield of maize was also significantly influenced by the main effect of different production systems. The highest yield (11.55tha™) was recorded under sole cropping of maize. Significantly, the lowest yield (10.07tha') was recorded in Ghora neem+ maize based Agroforestry system. The interaction effect of different maize variety and production systems on the yield of maize was found significantly different among each other. The highest yield 16.74 tha”! in sole cropping with Hero maize variety and the lowest 7.35 tha’ was found under Ghora neem based Agroforestry system with Super maize variety. Finally it can be concluded that Hero maize variety is the best Maize variety for production in the floor of Ipil-ipil woodlot.