Eficiencia de uso de n-p-k en una asociación de maíz (zea mays l.) Y quinchoncho (cajanus cajan l. Millspaugh) con o sin fertilización

abstract an experiment was conducted in quíbor valley, lara state, venezuela, to evaluate the use efficiency of the elements n, p and k in plants of maize and pigeonpea sewed as monocrops or intercrops. plants were grown without fertilizer application, or under 120 kg·ha-1 of nitrogen and 30 kg·ha-1 of phosphorus. it was measured the absorption of nutrients during plant vegetative growth, flowering and fruit maturation, along with the efficiency of absorption and conversion in absolute terms during the maturation stage, using a randomized block design with five replications. the results showed a higher absorption of n and k in intercropping corn in comparison with sole crop. in pigeonpea, there was a higher accumulation of n and p in the sole crop plot, and the intercropping was more affected independently of the fertilizer application. efficiency of absolute conversion had opposed tendencies when it was compared to the absorption, therefore corn in monocrop was superior to the intercrop. in pigeonpea opposite result was observed. the land equivalent ratio (ler) for n-pk, based on their absorption and conversion efficiencies, indicated advantages of intercropping over the sole crop regardless of the fertilizer application