Land Equivalent Ratio (LER), and Competition Indices in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) – Sesame (Sesamum indicum) Intercropping System

H Donyavian,M Jokar,Y Raii

doi:10.21608/eajb.2018.11896

Abstract

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and sesame (Sesamum indicum) are two major crops in Islamic Republic of IRAN. In the northeast of IRAN, most farmers' landholdings are less than 5 hectares; therefore cotton production cost is high. Agricultural experts suggest that one method for improving productivity is intercropping system. This research was done to study advantages or disadvantages of intercropping of cotton and sesame through investigation of Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) and competition indices. The experiment was conducted during 2015 growing seasons in Cotton Research Institute (C.R.I.). It was included a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications. Treatments were intercropping patterns of cotton (c) and sesame (s) (1c:1c, 1c:2s, 2c:1s, 3c:1s, 1c:3s, sole cotton, sole sesame). Substitution method of intercropping was done. Land Equivalent Ratio (LER), Relative Crowding Coefficient (k), Aggressivity (A), Competitive Ratio (CR), Actual Yield Loss (AYL), and Relative Value Total (RVT) were evaluated. Results revealed that, Land Equivalent Ratio (LER), Relative Crowding coefficient (K), Aggressivity (A), Competitive Ratio (CR) values of cotton generally were more than sesame. Planting cotton in intercropping with sesame had a higher monetary profitability too. In this study the best intercropping pattern for acquiring a highest Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) and monetary profitable was (3:1).

Highlights

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and sesame (Sesamum Indicum) are two major crops in IRAN
Land Equivalent Ratio and Relative Crowding Coefficient: Mean of partial LER for cotton was greater than sesame (Table 1)
We guessed that a value of total LER up to 1.00 in intercropping compared with mono-cropping of cotton was ascribed from a better utilization of natural and added resources too

Summary

Introduction

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and sesame (Sesamum Indicum) are two major crops in IRAN. In the northeast of the country most of farmers have landholdings less than 5 hectares, and cotton culture has gone to the marginal lands because of high production cost For these reasons, agricultural experts suggest that a way to improve productivity of cotton is intercropping system. Goma (1991) and Shahid (1997) reported a dominant effect of cotton having positive “A” value when grown in association with mung bean, mash bean and linseed. Such indices have not been used for cotton and sesame to evaluate the competition among species in IRAN. The objectives of the study were to investigate of competitive indices aspect of cotton-sesame intercropping system in Golestan province to evaluate the advantages of this practice on the lands

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion