EFFECT OF PLANTING PATTERN ON FORAGE PRODUCTION OF TEOSINTE (EUCHLAENA-MAXICANA) PLUS COWPEA (VIGNA-UNGUICULATA) INTERCROPPING

A field experiment was conducted during rainy season of 1992 and 1993 at Fodder Farm, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi to study the eff ect of planting pattern on forage production of teosinte (Euchlaena ma xicana Schrad) + cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] interrropping s ystem. The highest green-forage (525.5 q/ha) and dry matter (90.5 q/ha ) yields were obtained when teosinte + cowpea was sown in planting pat tern of 2 : 1, with increase of 31,05% in green forage and 40.33% in d ry matter over teosinte sole. Besides, teosinte + cowpea in 2 : 1 row ratio gave the maximum net return of Rs 26,982/ha, with the land-equiv alent ratio (LER) value of 1.82 and price-equivalent ratio (PER) of 5. 93.