Intercropping efficiency of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) based intercropping system under rainfed condition of Bihar

Abstract

An experiment on Intercropping efficiency of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) based intercropping system
under rainfed condition was carried out during rabi-seasons of 2009-10 and 2010-11 at Dholi farm
of Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, (Samastipur), Bihar. Among the row ratio in
intercropping systems, chickpea + linseed (6:1) expressed equal yield attributes and grain yield,
and harvest index of chickpea than the chickpea + mustard in 6:1 and 6:2 ratio during both the
years. The yield attributes, grain and straw yields, and harvest index of chickpea did not vary
significantly due to fertilizer levels. The yield attributing characters of mustard and linseed were
higher at 6:1 row ratio of intercropping than sole crops. The 6:2 row ratio of chickpea + mustard
and chickpea + linseed recorded maximum grain and straw yields of mustard and linseed which
were significantly higher over their 6:1 row ratio in both the years. Application of 100% and 75%
RDF recorded similar grain yields of mustard and linseed and both turned significantly superior
over 50% RDF in both the years. Chickpea + mustard irrespective of their row ratios recorded
significant reduction in number of Helicoverpa larvae/10 plants, number of damaged pods/plant
and pod damage percentage over chickpea + linseed and sole chickpea. Higher value of number
of Helicoverpa larvae/10 plants, number of damaged pods/plant and pod damage percentage were
recorded at 100% RDF than the lower levels of fertilizer but fails to exert significant effect on
these indices except to pod damage percentage which were significantly more at 100% RDF than
50% RDF. Land equivalent ratio (LER) did not vary significantly among the row ratio in
intercropping systems, only 6:1 row ratio of chickpea + mustard recorded significantly higher
LER (1.15 and 1.16) over sole chickpea in both years. LER did not vary significantly among different
fertilizer levels. Chickpea + mustard in 6:1 row ratio altogether recorded maximum chickpea
equivalent yield (CEY) (2233 and 2501 kg ha-1) and net return (Rs. 44828 ha-1) however, B: C ratio
(BCR) was higher under 6:2 row ratio of chickpea + mustard (2.10) which was at par with 6:1 row
ratio of chickpea + mustard (2.08). Chickpea + mustard in both the row ratio recorded significantly
higher CEY, net return and B:C ratio over chickpea + linseed in both the row ratio and sole
chickpea. CEY, gross and net returns, BCR and LER did not varied significantly among the fertilizer
levels.