The Effect of Diverse Intercropping System on Growth Indices, Yield and Profitability of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.): Variety Azad Mahak
Pradeep Kumar *
Department of Agronomy, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur- 208002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
M. Z. Siddiqui
Department of Agronomy, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur- 208002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Sunil Kumar Prajapati
Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi-110012, India.
Shivendra Singh
Department of Agronomy, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur- 208002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Gurwaan Singh
Department of Agronomy, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur- 208002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Deepak Kumar Rawat
Department of Crop Physiology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur- 208002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Intercropping enhances crop yield and quality by growing different crop species together on the same piece of land in distinct row combinations. Hence, a field experiment was conducted to study the suitable combination of mustard based intercropping with different crops at students’ instructional farm, C. S. Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur (U.P.) during Rabi season 2021-22. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with nine treatment combinations viz., T1 Sole Mustard, T2 Mustard: Chickpea (1:1), T3 Mustard: Chickpea (2:1), T4 Mustard: Lentil (1:1), T5 Mustard: Lentil (2:1), T6 Mustard: Linseed (1:1), T7 Mustard: Linseed (2:1), T8 Mustard: Field Pea (1:1) and T9 Mustard: Field Pea (2:1) with replicated thrice. The result revealed that growth attributes in the intercropping system were most notably observed in sole Mustard, with the Mustard + Lentil (1:1) system following closely. The Mustard + Lentil (1:1) intercropping system yielded a significantly higher mustard equivalent yield (2.77 t ha-1). Notably, the greatest net returns were obtained from sole Mustard cultivation (INR 151,045.50 ha-1), though the Mustard + Lentil (1:1) system also produced substantial returns (INR 144,001.00 ha-1). Furthermore, the benefit-cost ratio was highest for sole Mustard (5.05), with the Mustard + Lentil (1:1) system (4.82). In conclusion, these results support the superior productivity and profitability of sole Mustard cultivation, closely followed by the Mustard + Lentil (1:1) intercropping system.
Keywords: Intercropping, mustard, chickpea, pea, lentil, linseed, growth, yield, profit