Question

Why is it beneficial to grow maize and soybean in the same field together?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Farmers use soybeans and other legumes in roatations with grass crops such as corn or wheat. Grass crops are unable to take their own nitrogen from the air so they either need the nitrogen in the soil that the legumes provide for them in a crop rotation or they need a chemical fertilizer containing nitrogen.

Answer 2

Answer:

Intercropping (growing two or more than two crops simultaneously on the same field) is one of the way ameliorating the productivity of land and other inputs (Andrew and Kassam, 1976). Intercropping can be used by small farmers primarily to increase the diversity of their products and the stability of their annual output through effective use of land and other resources (Faris et al., 1983). Enyi (1973) reported that small farmers in many countries are seriously constrained by low productivity and limited land resources. Therefore, preliminary research has shown that possible means of increasing the productivity through intercropping. Willey and Osiru (1972) recommended that intercropping of maize with legumes appears to be more profitable, when legumes are intercropped at proper stand.

Mixtures of cereals and legumes have shown higher yields as compared to their sole cultivation. Crookston and Hill (1979) reported that when corn and soybean were drilled in alternating rows and alternating pairs rows, land equivalent ratios (LER) of 1.3 were obtained for both the treatments. Thiyagarajan (1994) reported decrease in the 100 grains weight of soybean in intercrop with maize. Huges and Metcalfe (1972) reported reduction in grain yield of intercrop soybean as compared to monoculture. Odango et al. (1990) observed that Maize depressed the grain yield of intercrop soybean. Cunared (1976) obtained LER ranging from 1.2- 1.5 from growing corn and edible soybean togather. Khan et al. (1999) reported that net income of Rs. 22789 ha-1 was obtained from intercropping maize and soybean. Pardaker et al. (1993) who observed clear monetary advantage of maize and soybean intercropping over monoculture.