Baby corn (Zea mays L.) performance as vegetable-cum-fodder in intercropping with legume fodders under different planting patterns

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the Baby corn (Zea mays L.) performance as vegetable-cum-fodder in intercropping with different fodders at the Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla during rabi, 2006-07. Paired row planting of baby corn resulted in significantly higher number of ears plant^-1 , ear weight and baby corn yield followed by normal row planting of baby corn. Baby corn + cowpea intercropping resulted in higher baby corn ear equivalent yield, total dry matter and green fodder. Quality parameters like crude protein content and crude protein yield was also high in baby corn + cowpea intercropping, while highest crude fibre content was recorded in paired row planting of fodder corn. The highest monetary returns were realized in paired row planting of baby corn followed by baby corn + cowpea intercropping.