Impact of Row Ratio and Soil Fertility Management Strategies on Performance of Wheat + Linseed Intercropping System

Abstract

Background: Intercropping with non-exploited crops is an emerging trend due to their adoptability to changing climatic conditions. There is a considerable scope to bring large area of Bulandshahr region, Uttar Pradesh under linseed through intercropping. The success of intercropping depends mainly on the use compatible crops and their suitable row proportion. The continuous application of inorganic fertilizers even in the balanced form may not sustain soil fertility and productivity. The aim of the present study is to find out the possibility of increasing the production of cereal and oilseeds through intercropping by adopting appropriate spatial arrangement of crops and nutrient management. Methods: A field experiment was conducted at Bulandshahr (U.P.) on sandy loam soil for two consecutive years in split plot design with three replication having five main plot treatments (crop geometry) viz., sole wheat, sole linseed, wheat + linseed (1:1), wheat + linseed (2:1), wheat + linseed (4:1) and four sub plot treatments (fertility levels) viz., 5 t FYM/ha, 50% RD of NPK, 75% RD of NPK and 100% RD of NPK. Result: The results revealed that the plant height at maturity, yields, harvest index, wheat equivalent yield (q/ha), uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in grains and straw in wheat were significantly superior in sole wheat followed by wheat + linseed intercropping with 4:1 ratio. Likewise, fertility level of 100% NPK resulted into higher values of above mentioned parameters than their respective counterparts.