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1
Chapter
Potential and Advantages of
Maize-Legume Intercropping
System
Sagar Maitra, Tanmoy Shankar and Pradipta Banerjee
Abstract
Intercropping provides enough scope to include two or more crops simultaneously
in same piece of land targeting higher productivity from unit area. Maize, a cereal
crop of versatile use, as planted in wide rows offers the opportunity for adoption of
intercropping. The intercropping system with maize and legume is beneficial in mul-
tifaceted aspects. The success of maize-legume intercropping system largely depends
on choice of crops and their maturity, density, and time of planting. Advantage of
maize-legume combination of intercropping system is pronounced in the form of
higher yield and greater utilization of available resources, benefits in weeds, pests
and disease management, fixation of biological nitrogen by legumes and transfer of
N to associated maize, insurance against crop failure to small holders, and control of
erosion by covering a large extent of ground area. Though maize-legume intercrop-
ping system exhibits limitations like less scope of farm mechanization, dependence
on more human workforce, and chance of achieving less productivity from maize,
the system implies more advantages for small holders in developing countries where
human workforce is not a constraint. The chapter has focused on beneficial impacts
of maize-legume intercropping system.
Keywords: intercropping, maize, legume, advantages, productivity, sustainability
1. Introduction
The cropping system is growing of crops on an area interacting with resources
and time and intercropping system is raising of two or more crops simultaneously in
the same piece of land [1, 2]. This a common practice in developing countries and it
is mostly practiced by small and marginal famers. In tropical world, intercropping
is prominently visible with food grain cultivation, whereas in temperate countries
forage based intercropping is very much common [3]. Intercropping is generally
practiced on small farms with limited resources and it has been observed to enhance
yields with greater stability in a variety of crop combinations. Moreover, intercrop-
ping system is known by less use of inputs, namely, fertilizers, plant protection
chemical, and thus healthy, safe, and high quality food under ecologically sound
production system. On-farm biodiversity is also promoted by diversification of crops
in through mixed cropping, intercropping and agroforestry systems resulting in vari-
ation of diet and net return, higher level of production stability, proper utilization of
limited resources human labour-force under low levels of technological intervention
[3] and all these ultimately lead to achieve production sustainability in agriculture.

Maize - Production and Use
2
Maize (Zea mays L.), also termed as ‘corn’ and ‘queen of cereals’, is the third most
important cereal of the world, ranks at third position amongst the cereals after rice
and wheat and it is a member of Poaceae family. The very cereal has been a staple
food for many people in Mexico, Central and South America and parts of Africa. In
Europe and rest of the North America, maize is grown mostly as animal feed. Maize
is widely cultivated throughout the world having a production of 1147 million
tonnes [4]. In various cropping systems as well as in intercropping maize can be
fit due to its wider adaptability in different seasons and agro-climatic conditions.
Maize is a widely spaced crop and offers ample scope for adoption of intercropping
and combination of maize legume in intercropping benefits the agricultural pro-
duction system by many ways with enhancement of productivity from unit area [2].
This chapter focuses on different aspects of maize based intercropping system, such
as considerations, advantages and limitations.
2. Considerations for choosing intercropping system
The success of intercropping depends on different considerations before and
during cultivation as because crops grown in mixture may compete spatially and
temporally amongst species for available resources. An efficient intercropping sys-
tem in terms of economic benefits depends on adaptation of planting geometry and
choice of compatible and suitable crops. The features of an intercropping system
differ with soil and climatic conditions, economic situation and preferences of the
farmers. In cereal-legume intercropping system, choice of crop species, density of
planting, planting geometry, time of planting and maturity of crops are the key
considerations and the success of the system largely depends on these factors.
2.1 Choice of crops
Choice of crops is important in intercropping, because severe competition in
mixed culture may not be beneficial and even harmful if proper plant species are
not chosen. In this way competition amongst plants can be minimized and better
utilization of available resources can be assured. The combination of cereal and
legume is considered an ideal because cereals can utilize a portion of biologically
fixed nitrogen by legumes. In maize based intercropping system, groundnut is cho-
sen as intercrop maize in South East Asia and Africa [5]. Maize can provide shade
to associated legumes and the legume species should be to some extent tolerant to
shade. Legume species like black gram (Vigna mungo), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata),
groundnut (Arachis hypogea) and green gram (Vigna radiata) have much less effect
on maize and these are tolerant to maize shade [6, 7]. Cereal-legume intercropping
is very common in the continents of Asia, Africa and South America [8], however,
in tropical countries, maize based intercropping is practiced with a preference to
cowpea [9]. In Central and South America and parts of East Africa intercropping of
maize and bean is widely practiced [10]. Maize and dwarf red gram intercropping
combination is known as a suitable option in managing cereal component [11].
2.2 Maturity of crop
Maturity of crop is another important consideration in adoption of intercrop-
ping. Generally, crops grown in intercropping should have different peak period of
growth, otherwise there will be competition amongst the crop species for available
resources. The complementary effects benefit the system and these are reflected
into yield advantage when the component species in intercropping have different

3
Potential and Advantages of Maize-Legume Intercropping System
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91722
growing period for major demands on available resources. Therefore crops with dif-
ferent duration maturity are chosen to get complementary effects. Maize has been
recognized as a common crop in cereal-based intercropping and treated as base crop
in additive series and dissimilar legumes are preferably considered as intercrop. In
maize-based intercropping system choosing short duration legumes as intercrops
is an ideal option. For example, in maize + green gram intercropping system, initial
growth of maize is slow and it reaches at knee-height stage after 6–7 weeks and peak
light demand starts from 55 to 60 days after sowing and by this period green gram
sown at the same time will be in reproductive stage or in close to harvest. In this way
green gram completes its major growth period and maize starts the same and thus
high level of complementarity is observed.
2.3 Plant density and maturity of component crops
Optimum plant stand is synonymous to optimum yield. But in intercropping
system two or more crops are accommodated in the same land at the same time and
thus there may be reduction in population of crops compared to pure stand of indi-
vidual species. On the basis of plant density, intercropping may be categorized into
two groups, namely, additive series and replacement series. The additive series is
comprised of addition of intercrop within fullest population of base crop. Another
crop known as intercrop and it is sown into the base crop population by adjusting
row spacing or changing planting geometry. Sometimes, paired row planting of
maize is done to accommodate greater space for intercrops. But in replacement
series of intercropping, there is not the concept of base crop and the crops (two
or more) considered are termed as component crops or intercrops. In such type of
intercropping, introduction of a component crop is made by replacing another and
none of the component crops are sown with 100% population as recommended in
their pure stands. It is very clear that certain proportion of population of one crop
component is sacrificed and another component is introduced in that place. In many
intercropping situations with replacement series, yield advantages are maximized
by increasing population density in excess than their recommended population in
the sole cropping. Here, the competition is relatively lesser in between component
crops as compared to additive series. As maize is widely spaced crop and generally
row spacing ranges between 60 to 90 cm and intercrops can easily be raised in
uniform rows of planting. The planting geometry, particularly, paired row planting
of maize may enhance the efficiency of growth parameters as well as yield of maize
and associated legumes by efficient accommodation of crops. Prasad and Brook [12]
observed an enhanced LAI per unit area with increase in plant population of maize
in maize-soybean intercropping system. Under the major demand for resources at
different times of system duration, the long duration cereal crop maize can recover
its resource needs in combination with short duration legumes during remaining
phase of growth that is after harvest of legumes [13].
2.4 Time of planting
Maize is recognized as a very common crop in intercropping system in which
legumes can be sown easily. Generally, in maize based intercropping systems, as
maize has slower initial growth rate up to knee height stage (6–7 weeks of sowing),
if short duration legumes are sown simultaneously can reach into their reproductive
stage can start their reproductive period and hence competition for common natural
resources do not appear at the same period. Maize has diverse use and if maize is con-
sidered as fodder in intercropping, competition does not come into figure because
of enhance biomass yield and mixture of grass-legume combination enhances the

4
quality of forage in terms of dietary value. Moreover, maize has higher potential for
accumulation of carbohydrate, a source of energy as fodder, from unit area on daily
basis. However, legumes can be planted in maize at the same time can also register
higher growth attributes because of wider spacing of maize as grain crop.
3. Advantages of intercropping
Maize and legume intercropping system has advantages in many ways and so
preferred by small and marginal farmers. Experimental results showed that maize-
legume intercropping can assure higher yield, soil restoration and greater impact of
system productivity.
3.1 Advantage in improving productivity and soil fertility
In Intercropping, more crops are grown simultaneously in unit area which
results not only greater productivity but also utilizes natural resources more effi-
ciently. Management of pests, diseases and weeds is easier because of less incidence
which leads to greater yield. Another important aspect of maize-legume intercrop-
ping is restoration of soil fertility.
3.1.1 Higher yield and greater resource utilization
Yield is the basic consideration for assessing benefits of intercropping. In
maize-legume intercropping maize is treated as based crop without much variation
in plant stand of cereal component. In additive series of intercropping, legumes
add plant population per unit area and benefits are achieved as total yield of crops,
namely maize and legume yields. Further, in a combination of legume and non-
legume, generally non-legume component is benefited by sharing atmospheric
nitrogen fixed by legumes. In assessing efficiency of an intercropping system, some
competition functions are considered. Of which land equivalent ratio (LER) is a
very common index used to measure productivity of intercropping system. Willey
and Osiru [14] proposed the concept of the LER and it is defined as the proportion-
ate land area required under pure stand of crop to produce the same productivity
as obtained in an intercropping at the same management level. Actually, LER is
the summation of ratios of the yield of each crop species involved in intercropping
system to its corresponding pure stand yield. Experiments carried out in differ-
ent countries clearly exhibited higher LER values in maize-legume intercropping
system (Table 1).
The LER indicates the advantage of an intercropping with efficient resource
utilization compared to pure stands of respective crops. The value of LER greater
than unity (1.0) is indicative of the advantages in intercropping system [2].
The LER indicates on efficiency of using land area, but time factor is not consid-
ered for which the crop occupies the land area. To rectify the limitation of the LER,
the concept of area time equivalent ratio (ATER) has been developed considering
the occupancy of land by the crops for certain periods [23]. Like the LER, values
of the ATER more than unity also indicate advantage of intercropping. Different
researchers noted beneficial ATER values with maize-legume intercropping systems
(Table 2).
However, researchers comment that the LER overestimates and the ATER under-
estimates the land-use efficiency [27].
Crop equivalent yield is another expression for evaluating the efficiency of
intercropping system [25]. Actually, in maize-legume intercropping system, total

5
yields are converted in the form of base crop (maize) equivalent yield by consid-
ering the intercrop yield and market price of maize (base crop) and associated
intercrops. In maize-legume intercropping system it is termed as maize equivalent
yield (MEY) and expressed in kg−ha
. If the base crop equivalent yield is obtained
higher in intercropping combinations than base crop yield, then intercropping is
considered advantageous. Table 3 indicates advantageous MEYs as obtained by the
researchers in experiments.
The greater yields in intercropping is recorded when the component crops show
complementary effects amongst themselves and use natural resources efficiently
than raised as sole crops [28]. The crops with inherent capability can only utilize
natural resources efficiently and complementarity plays important role in resource
utilization [2]. Further, higher yield of both the crops in maize-cowpea intercrop-
ping combination was noted than pure stands [29].
In soils with low nitrogen content, maize legume intercropping performed
well [30]. Yield advantage in intercropping is expressed by crops because of greater
use of growth resources like light, water, and nutrients and this efficient use is
Intercropping system Ratio/proportion LER Country References
Maize + bean 2:1 2.60 Kenya [15]
Maize + cowpea 1:1 1.72 Turkey [16]
Maize + French bean 1:2 1.66 India [17]
Maize + soybean 1:1 1.54 Nigeria [18]
Maize + groundnut 2:2 1.42 Ghana [19]
Maize + garden pea 1:2 1.56 Bangladesh [20]
Maize + soybean 100% + 75% 1.60 Turkey [21]
Maize + groundnut 2:2 1.82 India [7]
Maize + soybean 2:2 1.90 China [22]
Table 1.
Land equivalent ratio (LER) in maize-legume intercropping systems.
Intercropping system Ratio ATER Country References
Maize + black gram 1:2 1.37 India [24]
Maize + black gram 1:2 1.47 India [17]
Maize + soybean 2:6 1.32 India [25]
Maize + black cowpea 2:2 1.51 India [26]
Table 2.
Area time equivalent ratio (ATER) in maize-legume intercropping systems.
Intercropping
system
Ratio MEY (kg−ha
) Sole maize
yield (kg−ha
)
Sole legume
yield (kg−ha
)
References
Maize + soybean 2:6 9470 7092 5450 [25]
Maize + black
cowpea
2:2 7699 5062 4785 [26]
Maize + garden pea 1:2 20,220 8200 6450 [20]
Table 3.
Maize-equivalent yield (MEY) in maize-legume intercropping systems.

6
converted into biomass [2, 31]. The combination of maize-cowpea intercropping
can assure greater light interception and check evaporation loss of soil moisture
than pure stand of maize [32].
Maize and legumes are morphologically dissimilar and their time of peak
demand and requirement of light, nutrients and water are different. Therefore,
complementary effect between component crops is very common. Jiao et al. [33]
noted that maize used strong light and groundnut preferred weak light (because
maize provided partial shade) in maize-groundnut intercropping system and the
system registered yield advantage. Further, soybean-maize intercropping has been
known for efficient utilization of light, nutrients and available soil moisture [2, 34].
Soil moisture or water availability to plants is a determining factor in intercrop-
ping systems and efficient water use leads to use of other resources. Cereal-legume
combination is known to use available water resources more efficiently than pure
stands of crops. Scientific investigations showed that maize-legume combination
registered greater water use efficiency than that of sole crops and under water stress
conditions, it could be one of the best options [35] as soybean as a deep rooted crop
having efficiency to use soil moisture from deeper layer (below 1 m) of the soil [36].
3.1.2 Weed management
Intercropping is an effective practice for weed management because enough
of ground area is covered by crops which suppress weed growth. Combination of
maize and legumes in intercropping is known to reduce weed population and weed
biomass compared to pure stands of maize. Research evidences clearly show ben-
efits of intercropping as it provides competitive effect against weeds both spatially
and temporally than pure stands of maize. Reduced weed growth in maize-cowpea
intercropping system than sole cropping of maize. Chalka and Nepalia [37] men-
tioned that in maize-legume intercropping systems, maize + cowpea and maize +
soybean reduced NPK removal through weeds by 37.4 and 38.0% respectively and
the two intercropping combinations registered higher biological yield of maize.
Rahimi et al. [38] reported that maize-black gram intercropping combination of
either 1:1 or 2:2 recorded lower densities of total weeds compared to pure stand of
maize. Shah et al. [39] opined that weed smothering efficiency was higher in inter-
cropping of maize with soybean than the combination of maize with green gram
and it was due to the lower availability of space and light leads to reduce the weeds
population with maize-soybean intercropping system. Weed biomass is reduced in
intercropping as reported by researchers for maize–legume combinations [40, 41].
In studies it has been claimed that enhancement of diversity of crop species in inter-
cropping system maintains a highly asymmetric competition over weeds resulting
in less weed biomass [42, 43]. Weeds compete with crops for available resources and
less weed occurrence assures ultimately higher productivity.
3.1.3 Pest and disease management
Intercropping systems can influence the pest and pathogen population dynam-
ics. The population of beneficial insects such as parasites and predators are
enhanced in polyculture due to diversity of crops [2] and presence of harmful pests
may remain below the economic threshold level. Thus, plant protection becomes
easy and use of chemicals for crop protection comes down which ultimately reduces
the chemical pollution to agricultural ecology, however, monoculture of maize
requires more chemical pesticides [44]. In intercropping system, two or more crop
species are cultivated which creates complexity in food and habitat of pests. Further,
intercropping of maize with legumes is known to increase population of beneficial

7
insects and decrease the population of bud worm, corn borer, leaf hopper and maize
stalk borer [1, 45]. The intercropping system has also an impact against disease
management, because in mixture of crops functional diversity is created that checks
population increase of pathogen. Some diseases of legume crops like angular leaf
spot (Phaeoisariopsis griseola) of beans and ascochyta blight (Mycosphaerella pinodes)
were observed with less severity when these were intercropped with maize [46, 47]
than pure stand of legumes. Reduction of pest-disease incidence not only saves the
crop loss and better yield but also assures less use of chemicals for plant protection
and thus minimizes the chance of pollution in crop ecology.
3.1.4 N-fixation by legumes and transfer to associated non-legume
Legumes are known to fix atmospheric nitrogen biologically. The biological
nitrogen fixation (BNF) is a process where some bacteria convert atmospheric N2
into ammonia (NH3) and making it available to plants. In maize-legume intercrop-
ping system, both the crops acquire N from the common soil pool and compete
and thus deficit of mineral N may occur in the rhizosphere which promotes legume
to fix atmospheric N [48, 49]. Maize is an exhaustive crop and legumes are soil
replenishing crops and decomposition of legumes residue improves soil fertility. In
the soils with poor available nitrogen status, the biologically fixed nitrogen plays an
important role. Under the situation of limited supply of nitrogenous fertilizer also
intercropping legume and non-legume may a suitable option of nutrient manage-
ment. Further, chemical N fertilizers are responsible for degradation of ecosystem in
the form of nitrate pollution and legumes grown as intercrops help in environmental
sustainability [50]. In maize-soybean intercropping system, soybean supplements
nitrogen to cereal component [51]. Maize grown as forage in intercropping with
legumes is known to improve quality parameters of forage like higher crude protein
and mineral content and digestibility [48, 52]. Biologically fixed N by pigeon pea was
transferred to associated maize and N content and uptake by maize was improved
in maize-pigeon pea intercropping system [53]. The associated non-legume crop
(maize) gets benefit of fixed N by legumes [1]. Thus, maize-legume intercropping
system is beneficial in terms of N economy too. Leaf defoliation of legumes is known
to increase productivity of maize–soybean intercropping system [22].
3.1.5 Erosion control
Intercropping is advantageous in terms of erosion control because of coverage of
more ground area than monocropping of cereals. The striking actions of rain drops
can erode the bare or uncovered soil, but the coverage of soil by legumes can check
it. In maize-cowpea intercropping combination, ground area is mostly covered,
thus soil erosion is reduced [54]. Taller crop like maize also plays a vital role as wind
break and protects the crops with shorter canopy (like legumes) as well as erosion
caused by wind [45].
3.2 Advantage in enhancement of system productivity
3.2.1 Insurance against crop failure to small holders
Intercropping is a common practice of small and marginal farmers in developing
countries of Asia and Africa and in risky and fragile ecological conditions which is
known as a suitable practice to provide natural insurance and thus provides a profit-
able shape to farm economy. Under moisture stress conditions, more of ground area
is covered under maize-legume intercropping than sole cropping of maize which

8
leads to less evaporation loss of soil moisture. Under extreme conditions, may be
due to either biotic or abiotic factors, a crop may fail, but there will be less chance of
failure of more crops grown in intercropping, which are morphologically dissimilar
and if so happened some yield and return will be earned to save small holders’
economic interest. Thus stability in yield and return are achieved due to creation
of crop diversity in the intercropping systems. In economic point of view, it may be
stated that small farmers may face problem of seasonal price variability of com-
modities which often can destabilize net realization, but diversification in the form
of intercropping can stabilize farm income to a great extent. Experimental results
indicated superiority of intercropping maize-beans in soil fertility restoration
and income enhancement than monocropping of the component crops [55]. Yield
enhancement of crops is another basis to strengthen the economy of small and mar-
ginal farmers adopting intercropping system [56]. Though intercropping of maize-
grain legumes is labour and cost intensive, small holders of central Mozambique
prefer it because of reduced risk of crop failure and enhanced productivity [57].
3.2.2 Sustainability of the system
Intercropping is now in the centre of attention targeting sustainability in agri-
culture. The negative impacts of industrialized and modern agriculture have already
been realized and issues are very crucial in crop ecology to achieve sustainability.
On the other side, maize-legume intercropping has enough potential in the form of
more yields from limited resource, proper utilization of resources, and restoration
of soil fertility, efficient pest management and creation of above and below ground
diversity. In the moisture stress or resource poor conditions, intercropping provides
natural insurance against crop failure caused by biotic and abiotic factors and thus
ascertains economic stability of small holders. Considering the multiple advantages,
it can be stated that maize-legume intercropping system is one of the suitable
options for achieving production sustainability for small holders.
4. Limitations of intercropping
Despite a number of benefits of maize-legume intercropping over monocrop-
ping, sometimes intercropping may exhibit some limitations especially in terms
of agronomic management. In the field where farm mechanizations have been
adopted, intercultural operations and harvest become difficult with two dissimilar
crops. However, there is no problem where the intercrops are harvested for forage
or grazed [13]. It may be mentioned that where human workforce is sufficient, par-
ticularly in developing countries, there is no need for investment in costly machines
for agronomic management and harvest of crops in intercropping and in this regard
intercropping does not express any disadvantages. Intercropping may cause yield
loss of the base crop (maize) compared to its sole stand, but MEY become more and
thus intercropping may be considered more productive than monoculture. Further
in intercropping, crowded crop canopy may create a microclimate which may be
congenial to spread of fungal pathogens, but in maize-legumes intercropping
combination, such incidences are not common.
5. Conclusion
Considering the importance of maize in cereal basket of the world, production
sustainability is a prime concern. Maize is an exhaustive crop by nature that requires

9
Author details
Sagar Maitra*, Tanmoy Shankar and Pradipta Banerjee
M.S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and
Management, Odisha, India
*Address all correspondence to: sagar.maitra@cutm.ac.in
enough nutrient inputs to achieve target yield. Under small holders’ practices in
poor soil and fragile ecological conditions continuous growing of maize may create
further depletion of soil nutrients causing a threat to production sustainability. In
this regard, maize-legume intercropping system is considered a suitable option as
it has enough potential to replenish the soil nutrients, produce more yield and eco-
nomic benefit by utilizing limited resource, check damage caused by pests, diseases
and weeds to a large extent, control soil erosion by covering ground and provide
natural insurance to small holders under risky conditions against crop failure. Thus,
in true sense, maize-legume intercropping system can boost yield as well as produc-
tion sustainability of the system as a whole.
© 2020TheAuthor(s). LicenseeIntechOpen.Thischapterisdistributed undertheterms
of theCreativeCommonsAttributionLicense(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/
by/3.0), whichpermitsunrestricted use, distribution, and reproductioninanymedium,
provided theoriginal workisproperlycited.

10
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