Effect of organic fertilizer and intercropping on growth and yield of sweet corn and fresh bean

The aim of thesis study was to determine the effect of intercropping and organic fertilizer on growth and yield of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharate, Sturt cv. Succar, F1) and fresh bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Istride). The field experiments was carried out during the spring seasons in 2017 and 2018 in a private farm in Qushtapa, 30 km far from the center of Erbil in Iraq, with global positional system (G.P.S) reading (360 ON, 44001E), (0411359, 03997002UTM). The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replicates. The study consists of two factors: 1Three systems of planting (B1:sweet corn, B2:fresh beans and B3:intercropping), and 2Five levels of organic fertilizer (A1:0, A2:5, A3:10, A4:15 and A5:20 kg per 7.8m2). The results showed that the intercropping was significant effect onthe number of leaf per plant, the number of branches per plant and cob length of sweet corn. On the other hand, the mono-crop was significant difference on fresh cob yield of sweet corn and fresh pod yield of fresh bean in 2017 and 2018, recorded maximum value of fresh cob yield (21.68 ton ha-1) in 2017 and (21.52 ton ha-1) in 2018 of sweet corn and fresh pod yield (12.02 ton ha-1) in 2017 and (11.13 ton ha-1) in 2018 of fresh bean. However, organic fertilizer 15 and 20 kg per 7.8m2 has been significantly influenced the all growth traits and fresh yield of sweet corn and fresh bean. The value of LER of intercropping, registered (1.08) and (1.06) in 2017 and (1.15) and (1.10) in 2018. The study concluded that intercropping was superior to mono-crop in some growth traits except yield of sweet corn and fresh bean. Increasing the amount of organic fertilizer to15 and 20kg per 7.8m2 leads to improve and increase value of the growth traits and increase the fresh yield. Then, the interaction between intercropping and organic fertilizer 15 and 20 kg per 7.8m2caused the increase of fresh yield. Keywords: Fresh bean, Intercropping, LER, Organic fertilizer, Sweet corn, Yield.