Inter-cropping management in Jatropha curcas L. for effective land use and enhancing the production

Abstract

Legume intercropping in Jatropha during initial gestational period helps the farmer not only to increase his economy but also his soil health. In the kharif trial, five pulse crops, viz., Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), Cowpea (Vigna anguiculata), Cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonolobus), Green gram (Vigna radiatus) and Black gram (Vigna mungo) were studied. The yield attributes showed that maximum fruit and seed yield was achieved in Jatropha-Cowpea combination with Jatropha recording 222.8 fruits/plant and seed yield 435.05 kg/ ha respectively. This is followed by Jatropha-pigeon pea intercropping with a yield of 215.7 fruits/plant and 421.18 kg seeds / ba in Jatropha. Lowest yield of 190.4 fruits/plant and 371.78 kg seeds / ha were recorded in control in which no intercropping was taken up. Though Jatropha + Green gram and Jatropha + Black gram gave good returns, there were no significant improvement in fruit production of Jatropha. The minimum weed population (10.33/m²) was noticed in Jatropha + black gram combination where as, the maximum weed population was noticed in control (Jatropha with no intercrops). The mean total LER was <1 in all intercropping treatments ranging from 0.75 to 0.93.