Evaluation of Intercropping Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) with Maize under Different Plant Densities in Sandy Soils

INTERCROPPING is the practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same field to maximize total production per unit area. Intercropping is traditional practice in small holders especially at developing countries. The reason for this popularity is built on high profit and maximizing agriculture resources. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of intercropping maize with different plant densities on yield and yield components of groundnut to increase the productivity of groundnut under sandy soils. Two field trials were carried out at the experimental and research station at Ismailia of the Agriculture Research Center (ARC) during 2013 and 2014 summer seasons. Maize variety SC168 and groundnut C.V. Giza.6 were sown in the two seasons. The experimental design was a split-plot design with three replications; the main plots were assigned to three maize treatments (harvesting maize for grains, defoliation maize plants at 85 days from sowing maize and harvesting maize for silage). Three maize plant densities were distributed in sub plots by 2, 3 and 4 plants/hill at distance of 70 cm apart. Groundnut plants revealed that were sown in both sides of ridges (120 cm ridge width) by growing two plants per hill at 20 cm apart under intercropping and solid2 (as intercropping) , and solid1 as recommended solid plant sowing. Results indicated that maize treatments, plant densities of maize and their interactions significantly affected groundnut characters. Removal maize plants for silage at 85 days or defoliation maize plants (at 85 days) increased light interception on groundnut plants which had a positive impact on the pod and seed yield of groundnut. Groundnut under intercropping with two maize plants per hill (50% of recommended density of maize) had the highest weight of seed per plant (13.18 and 12.78 g) and yield of pods per ha (2.16 and 2.09 ton) at 2013 and 2014 season, but four maize plants per hill (100% of recommended density of maize) caused significant reduction of seed yields per plant and pod yield per ha. According to this investigation, to gain high productivity of groundnut (2.50 and 2.32 t/ha, at 2013 and 2014 season), remove maize plants as silage (at 85 days) and / or growing two maize plants per hill (50%) under intercropping in sandy soil.