Tilahun Tadesse*1 , Minale Liben1 and Alemayehu Asefa1
Field experiments were undertaken for two years at Adet and Motta experimental stations, northwestern Ethiopia with an objective of determining the appropriate planting pattern and optimum rate of N and P fertilizers for maximization of maize/faba bean intercropping system. A factorial combinations of four nitrogen rates (0, 32, 64, and 96 kg N/ha), three phosphorus rates (0, 46 and 69 kg P2O5/ha) and two planting patterns (1:1 and 2:1 maize: faba bean alternate row planting) were tested along with two sole crop treatments of maize and faba bean in randomized compete block design with three replications. The results indicated that there was significant difference in maize grain yield at the two locations due to nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizer levels. Significant difference in faba bean yield was observed due to planting pattern. The Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) is more than unity in most of the cases. The highest LERs, 2.0 at Motta and 1.5 at Adet were obtained when a planting pattern of 1:1 maize: faba bean alternate rows was used with the application of 96-46 N- P2O5 kg/ha. The specified intercropping pattern exhibited highest System Productivity Index (SPI) and Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE). The economic Analysis has also confirmed that the specified 1:1 maize : faba bean intercropping with the application of 96-46 N- P2O5 kg/ha treatment gave the best advantage at both locations.
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