A study was conducted to examine the effects of the time and severity of cutting lablab (Lablab purpureus), both in sole crops and intercropped with maize (Zea mays). The effects of cutting management on the dry matter (DM) yield, leaf area index (LAI), nodulation, the nitrogen (N) yield, and N fixation by lablab were measured, as were the total DM yield, grain yield, and a yield component of maize.

Two dates of lablab cutting (40 and 60 d after sowing (DAS)), and two heights of cutting (30 and 20 cm above the soil surface) were applied in factorial combinations as well as a no-cutting treatment. Maize was not cut either in monoculture or intercrops.

Intercropping lablab with maize increased the grain yields of maize from 3.2 t ha−1 to 3.8 t ha−1 if lablab was cut at 40 DAS, but delaying cutting until 60 DAS had no effect, while uncut lablab reduced the yield of maize by 10%. Intercropping lablab with maize reduced the total N yield of lablab by over 50%, from 302 to 132 kg N ha−1. Regardless of cropping system, the total N yield of lablab at 130 DAS was 24% less when lablab was cut at 60 DAS compared with 40 DAS. Cutting height did not significantly affect the total N yield of lablab. Although both cropping system and cutting time significantly affected the total N fixation by lablab at 130 DAS, there were no significant effects of cropping system, cutting time or severity of cutting on the proportion of N in lablab derived from N fixation.

Values of Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) which ranged between 1.2 and 1.6, and of Area Time Equivalent Ratio (ATER) which ranged between 1.0 and 1.4 for intercrops of maize with lablab indicated a definite advantage of intercropping. LER and ATER values were greatest when lablab was uncut, and least when lablab was cut at 60 DAS.