Effect of baby corn-vegetable intercropping systems on light interception by canopy and competition indices

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of intercropping vegetables (cowpea and amaranthus) in baby corn and to find out the effect of intercropping and cropping geometry on light interception and competition indices of the intercropping systems at College of Agriculture (KAU), Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala during summer 2019. The light interception by the crop canopy of baby corn was the highest in paired row planting of baby corn with cowpea (85.54%).Asignificant reductionof lightinterception was observed inskip rowplanting of baby corn with cowpea and amaranthus. Analysis of competitive indices in intercropping systems revealed that the paired row planting of baby corn with cowpea recorded the highest land equivalent ratio (LER) of 1.42. The positive aggressivity (Abv) value and higher relative crowding coefficient (RCC) of baby corn (Kb) indicated the competitive nature and dominance of baby corn over intercrops. Study revealed that the intercropping baby corn with vegetables was feasible and resulted in yield advantage than the sole cropping of baby corn. The paired row planting of baby corn with cowpea had higher light interception and more intercropping advantage with respect to the competition indices.