Effect of Peanut Intercropping on Growth and Grain Filling Efficiency of Corn Plant
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53797/agrotech.v2i1.7.2023Keywords:
corn, peanut, intercropping, grain filling, nitrogen fixation, sustainable agricultureAbstract
Intercropping is a sustainable agricultural practice that can enhance crop productivity and soil fertility, particularly in nutrient-depleted systems. This study investigated the effect of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) intercropping on the vegetative growth and grain filling efficiency of sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata). A field experiment was conducted at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four treatments: monocrop corn (1:0:1) as control, and three intercropping ratios 1:1:1, 1:2:1, and 1:3:1 of corn:peanut:corn. Growth parameters including plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf dimensions, and reproductive attributes such as fruit weight and number of filled grains were measured weekly over 11 weeks. Results revealed that intercropping significantly influenced corn performance, particularly in the 1:2:1 treatment (T2), which recorded the highest values for plant height (152.01 cm), fruit weight (348.15 g), and grain filling. Analysis of variance showed significant effects of intercropping ratios on key growth traits (P ≤ 0.01), with interaction effects observed between treatment and time. The enhanced growth in intercropped treatments was attributed to nitrogen fixation by peanut and improved resource use efficiency. These findings suggest that peanut intercropping, particularly in a 1:2:1 ratio, can be an effective strategy to improve corn yield and promote sustainable soil fertility management in tropical agriculture.
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