Comparative performance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) based inter cropping systems with different row ratios under irrigated condition

Abstract

A field trail was conducted at Kulbhaskar Ashram College, Prayagraj during two consecutive Rabi season, 2019-20 and 2020-21, to evaluate the outcome of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) based inter cropping systems (Wheat with Chickpea, Wheat with Mustard and Wheat with Linseed) with different row ratios (2:2, 3:2 and 4:2) under irrigated conditions. Inter-cropping reduced the values of growth parameters and yield attributes of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum), mustard (Brassica campestris) and linseed (Linum usitatisemum) against their sole crops. Inter- cropping of wheat with chickpea in 2:2 row ratio recorded significantly higher wheat equivalent yield (WEY) 47.94 qt//ha, land equivalent ratio (LER) 1.39, net income (NI) Rs.85118/ha and benefit: cost ratio 2.55 in comparison to sole crop of wheat 40.88 qt./ha, 1.0, Rs.74050/ha and 2.36, sole crop of chickpea 28.66 qt./ha, 1.01, Rs.43967/ha and 1.51, sloe crop of mustard 26.50 qt./ha, 1.01, Rs.41235/ha & 1.52,and sloe crop of linseed 27.95 qt./ha, 1.02, Rs.44510/ha and 1.65, as WEY, LER, net income, and B:C ratio, respectively. Wheat intercropped in 2:2 row proportion with chickpea produced 17.27 percent higher WEY and 14.94 percent higher net return over sole crop of wheat.