Baby Corn-Legumes Intercropping System: II Weed Dynamics and Community Structure

• Sole baby corn had the highest weed density and biomass
• Intercrops possessed lower weed density and biomass over their respective sole crop
• Weed diversity and evenness were higher in intercrops

Field experiments were conducted in winter seasons of 2007-08 and 2008-09 at Agriculture Experimental Farm of Indian Statistical Institute, Giridih, India on sandy loam soil. Randomized block design with three replications was followed to study the performance of sole and intercrops of legumes [Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), Pea (Pisum sativum L.), Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), Lentil (Lens esculenta Moench)] with baby corn (Zea mays L.) in 2:1 (one row of legume planted in between of baby corn rows) and 2:2 (two rows of legume planted in between of baby corn rows) additive series system. Effects on weed communities were characterized in terms of growth and species diversity (richness and evenness). The greater the crop biomass, the higher the weed suppression was. Sole baby corn was densely populated by weeds and also had higher weed biomass. Nonetheless, intercrops suppress weeds growth and population more than their respective sole crop. The intercropping systems of pea or chickpea with baby corn were most suppressive of weeds. Weed diversity and evenness were higher in intercropping systems. The 2:2 row arrangement appeared to be the most weed competitive row arrangement. Intercropping of legumes suppressed the emergence of the most troublesome weeds in the study.