Feasibility of intercrops in Bt cotton hybrid under south Gujarat condition

Abstract

The experiment was conducted during kharif seasons of the year from 2021-22 to 2023-24 at Main Cotton Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Surat, Gujarat to study the suitability of different intercrops in Bt cotton and to work out the profitably of different intercropping systems. Six different treatments viz; Sole cotton sown with recommended spacing of 120x45 cm (T1), Pair row planting of cotton maintaining 60 cm spacing within the pair and 180 cm between two pairs (T2), Pair row planting of cotton + 3 rows of Green gram (T3), Pair row planting of cotton + 3 rows of Soybean (T4), Pair row planting of cotton + 3 rows of Cowpea (T5) and Pair row planting of cotton + 3 rows of vegetable Indian Bean (T6) were laid out in Randomized Block Design with four replications. In pooled results, only one growth parameter number of monopodia/plant was significantly differed due to different treatments. Number of bolls/plant and boll weight recorded at harvest could not affect significantly. Significantly higher seed cotton yield was recorded in treatment T1 (sole cotton sown with recommended spacing) and found statistically at par with treatments T2 (cotton planted in pair row) and T4 (Pair row planting of cotton + 3 rows of soybean). Significantly higher seed cotton equivalent yield was recorded in treatment T6 (pair row planting of cotton + 3 rows of vegetable Indian bean) over others. Based on the results it was concluded that pair row planting with growing Bt Cotton hybrid at 180 cm-60 cm x 45 cm spacing and three rows of vegetable Indian bean as intercrop at 45 x 15 cm spacing between two pairs of Bt cotton hybrid was the best combination in relation to cotton equivalent yield and economic returns.