Effects of Intercropping on Plant Growth and Yield Performance of Toria (Brassica campestris L.) and Field Pea (Pisum sativum L.) under Irrigated Conditions

Abstract

Background: Intercropping with legumes improves resource use efficiency, soil N, soil quality, yields and profitability. Having deep root system, legumes can extract moisture and nutrients from deeper layer and hence does not compete with associated cereals. Therefore, intercropping particularly with leguminous crops is a sustainable option especially under adverse climatic conditions. Methods: The experiment consisted of seven intercropping systems based on Sangam variety of Toria and Arkel variety of field pea viz., sole toria (T1), sole field pea (T2), toria + field pea, 3:3 (T3), toria + field pea, 3:2 (T4), toria + field pea, 3:1 (T5), toria + field pea, 2:3 (T6) and toria + field pea, 1:3 (T7). All the treatments were arranged in RCBD and replicated four times. Result: Findings of the present investigation showed that toria + field Pea-3:3 resulted maximum plant growth compared to minimum values of these attributes under sole cropping system. This system also resulted in highest number of siliqua per plant (215), siliqua length (6.9 cm), number of grain per siliqua (23.0) and test weight (4.6 g) of toria as well as maximum pods per plant (20.1), number of grains per pod (8.6) and test weight (56.4 g) of field pea. Improved plant growth and yield attributes finally reflected in terms of higher grain yield (12.0 and 10.6 q/h) and harvest index (32.1 and 44.7%) of both toria as well as field pea.