Yield, economics and biological indices of chickpea + rapeseed intercropping system as influenced by moisture conservation and nutrient management practices under rainfed conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2018-2019 at the experimental field of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Institute of Agricultural Sciences located at Utlou, Bishnupur District, Manipur to assess the yield, economics and biological indices of chickpea + rapeseed (4:2) intercropping system with suitable moisture conservation practices and different levels of phosphorus and sulphur under rainfed conditions in order to evaluate the intercropping system and analyze the competition and the interrelationship between component crops and their pure stands. Chickpea + rapeseed intercropping system (4:2) recorded higher chickpea equivalent yield over sole chickpea and sole rapeseed with the application of moisture conservation and phosphorus and sulphur fertilizer. The chickpea equivalent yield and system productivity index values were greater with moisture conservation practices and higher dose of phosphorus and sulphur nutrition indicating an advantage of intercropping. In intercropping, the values of aggressivity and competitive ratio indicated that chickpea was more competitive than rapeseed. This study suggests that chickpea/rapeseed (4:2) intercropping system was more productive and profitable with phosphorus and sulphur nutrition if proper moisture conservation practice could be adopted by the farmers as alternative options under rainfed conditions.