SUNFLOWER BASED INTERCROPPING WITH LEAFY VEGETABLES

A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Horticulture Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE (MS) IN HORTICULTURE

An experiment was conducted at the Horticultural Farm, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, during the period from November 2004 to February 2005 to investigate the sunflower based intercropping with leafy vegetables. There were two variety of sunflower viz. Kironi, Sunwheat-103 and four intercrop viz. non­ intercrop, Red amaranth, Bengal spinach and Pak-choi. The treatment combinations were set in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Growth and yield parameters were recorded and the cost benefit analysis was computed to assess the yield potentiality and profitability of sunflower and intercropping of leafy vegetable. Sunflower variety Had significant effect on plant height, number of leaves, diameter of the head, seed yield, 1000 seed weight and oil content. The highest seed yield (961.11 kg/ha) was obtained from variety Kironi. Intercroppe.d leafy vegetables intercropping had remarkable effect on growth, flowering and yield. The combinations of variety and intercrop significantly influenced the plant height, number of leaves, diameter of the head, seed yield and 1000 seed weight. The highest seed yield (1133 kg/ha) was found in the treatment combination of tall variety sunflower (Y.r) and control intercrop (Io). Highest intercrop yield (13.69 t/ha) obtained from the dwarf variety and Red amaranth intercrop (VDIL) treatment combination. Economic analysis showed that tall variety sunflower (Vr) with Red amaranth intercrop (I1J gave the best economic return (Tk 77539/ha) and benefit cost ratio of 2.4 5.