Performances of Different Varieties and Population of Soybean (Glycine max L.) under Intercropping Systems with Maize (Zea mays L.)

The field experiment was carried out at Haro Sabu Agriculture Research Center, during 2013 with the objectives of determining the effect of varieties and population density of soybean intercropped with maize on phenological and growth parameters of the component crops. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with three replication in factorial combination of three soybean varieties (Boshe, Ethio Yugoslavia and Didesa) and three soybean plant populations (25%, 50% and 75%) along with respective sole crop of soybean varieties and maize BHQPY-545. Plant population of soybean had significant (P<0.05) effect on LAI of maize. The highest LAI (3.61) was obtained from 50% soybean population. The LA, LAI and number of primary branches of soybean component showed significant difference due to plant population. The highest LA per plant (3392.60 cm2) and number of primary branches (6.22) were obtained in soybean population of 25%. However, the highest LAI (4.96) was obtained from 75% soybean population. Plant height, number of effective nodules per plant, number of primary branches, of soybean were significantly (P<0.01) affected by soybean varieties. The highest plant height (123.89cm) was obtained from Ethio Yugoslavia. The highest number of primary branches per plant was obtained from variety Boshe (7.33). The Highest number of effective nodules (30.33) was recorded for variety Didesa. Cropping system showed highly significant (P<0.01) effects on number of effective nodules per plant and significant (P<0.05) effect on leaf area index. The result revealed that cropping system had a significant effect on LAI and number of effective nodules per plant where higher LAI (6.18) and effective nodules per plant (46.44) were recorded from sole cropped soybean variety than the intercropping system. Keywords: Glycine max, intercropping, plant populations, sole cropping, Zea may