Dry Matter Production and Productivity as Influenced by Staggered Sowing of Mustard Intercropped at Different Row Ratios with Chickpea

Singh, K.K.; Rathi, K.S.

Dry Matter Production and Productivity as Influenced by Staggered Sowing of Mustard Intercropped at Different Row Ratios with Chickpea

2003

Singh, K.K. | Rathi, K.S.

In a 2-year experiment on Typic Ustochrept soils of the North Plain Zone of India, the effect of different row ratios (3 : 1, 6 : 2, 4 : 1 and 8 : 2) and staggered sowing of mustard (simultaneous and 15 days later) was studied in intercropping of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Nodule number, dry weight, grain yield, protein content and yield were higher in monocrop chickpea compared with intercropping. Among row ratios, except for protein content in grain, all the above parameters were significantly higher in the 4 : 1 intercropping of chickpea + mustard. Similarly, delayed sowing of mustard by 15 days also gave higher plant dry weight (1.80–2.36 g plant(−1)), nodule number (0.41–1.56 and 0.5–3.0 at 55- and 70-day stages, respectively), protein yield (63 kg ha(−1)), grain yield (290 kg ha(−1)) and biological yield (1104 kg ha(−1)) than sowing with chickpea. Widening the row ratio and pairing of the rows of mustard were also found to be beneficial in increasing chickpea growth and yield. Like chickpea, sowing of mustard as a monocrop gave higher growth and yield. Delayed sowing by 15 days reduced the growth and yield of mustard drastically. Productivity, measured in terms of land equivalent ratio, was higher for intercropping of chickpea and mustard in the 4 : 1 row ratio than for sowing of chickpea and mustard in sole stands. Interestingly, the land equivalent ratio was also higher in the simultaneously sown crop than for staggered sowing.

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