Companion Crop Research Articles

Flowering zinnia as companion plant increases predatory arthropod abundance and improves yard-long bean yield

Flowering zinnia as companion plant increases predatory arthropod abundance and improves yard-long bean yield

VEGETABLE BEAN IN POLYCROPPING

Purpose. To scientifically justify the influence of protection systems (biological, chemical) on the growth and development of bean plants in strip cropping. Methods. Field, statistical. Results. To create a polycrop agrogroup, strips that were multiples of the rig width (for example, 2.8 m, 4.2 m, 5.6 m, etc.) were formed. Solid-planted companion crops (spiked cereals [for example, winter triticale – the most optimal forecrop for bean]) were grown in alkalized strips, and bean was grown in non-alkalized strips. Crops were rotated by periodic alternating alkalized and non-alkalized strips. A clear pattern was revealed: the farther bean plants from the companion crops (70 cm, 140 cm, 210 cm) were, the taller they were: when sown with winter triticale, their height increased from 57 cm to 59 cm; when sown with spring triticale, it increased from 54 cm to 58 cm. On average for two years, a clear similar trend was observed for bush width: the farther bean plants from the companion crops (70 cm, 140 cm, 210 cm) were, the wider bean bush became: when sown with winter triticale, the bush width increased from 55 cm up to 59 cm; when sown with spring triticale, it increased from 54 cm to 57 cm. The farther bean rows from the companion crops were, the fewer nodules per plant formed: when the bean was sown with winter triticale, the nodule number decreased from 110/plant to 95/plant; when it was sown with spring triticale, this parameter decreased from 68/plant to 53/plant. In 2022, the bean sown with winter triticale as a predecessor and companion crop in the strip cropping was least affected by Alternaria leaf spot (5–9%); when the bean was sown with spring triticale as a companion crop, the Alternaria leaf spot prevalence ranged from 11 to 13%. In 2023, with winter triticale as a companion crop and predecessor, the bean anthracnose prevalence was 13–20%; in the other variants, it amounted to 35–40%. Conclusions. Strip cropping, in particular with vegetable bean, is a promising trend in organic farming. The farther bean plants from the companion crops (70 cm, 140 cm, 210 cm) were, the taller they were and the wider bean bushes became, but the number of nitrogen-fixing nodules, on the contrary, decreased. The biological regimen of plant protection restrained the Alternaria leaf spot and bean anthracnose development on bean plants where winter triticale was a companion crop and forecrop.

Growth Characteristics and Quality of Cherry Tomatoes Planted with Nasturtiums, as a Companion Plant, in Building-Integrated Urban Agriculture

Background and objective: This study was conducted to promote a companion plant for building-integrated urban agriculture and determine appropriate spatial conditions for planting cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) and nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus), a companinon plant, in response to the increasing demands for eco-friendly agricultural practices in urban.Methods: The growth and quality of cherry tomatoes (CTs) and nasturtiums achieved with different planting ratios were analyzed: CC (when only CTs were planted), C2N1 (ratio of CTs to nasturtiums: 2:1), C1N1 (1:1), C1N2 (1:2), NC (when only nasturtiums were planted) on the rooftop and wall. A one-way ANOVA was used to evaluate the significance of test results based on planting ratios, followed by Duncan's multiple range test at a 95% confidence level. Independent sample t-tests were conducted to examine the growth and quality of CTs between the rooftop and wall.Results: Overall, CTs in CC showed significant growth compared to companion planting with nasturtiums. Among the treatment plots, the CTs in C2N1 had the highest plant weight and sugar concentrations on the rooftop. Similar patterns were observed on the wall. When planted in a 2:1 ratio as a companion plant to CTs (C2N1), nasturtiums had larger leaves and flowers. In terms of leaf size, plant weight, fruit weight, and sugar content CTs appeared to grow better on the wall than on the rooftop when planted with nasturtiums. For optimal CTs growth and quality, it is recommended to plant CTs in a 2:1 ratio with nasturtiums on the wall.Conclusion: Due to the distinctive spatial features of urban agriculture using buildings, specialized management strategies for different crops should be suggested. Further research should focus on a quantitative analysis of fruit and seed quality, as well as on a qualitative analysis to comprehensively understand the potential outcomes.

Productivity, Soil Health, and Tree Diversity in Dynamic Cacao Agroforestry Systems in Ecuador

Agroforestry has the potential to support more resilient livelihoods, soil health, and biodiversity, when compared to monocropping. In Ecuador, the Union of Cacao Peasant Organizations (UNOCACE) has been working with producers since 2016 to transition cacao plots to a dynamic agroforestry system that includes timber and fruit species as well as ground cover in addition to cacao. This study evaluates the application of this model and its implications for agricultural production, livelihoods, and soil health through producer surveys and field-based sampling. The program is resulting in significantly more timber and fruit trees on the cacao plots. Despite this, cacao production and income have not decreased in a significant way, once accounting for the number of producing trees on the plots. In addition, while additional labor is utilized on the dynamic agroforestry plots, after utilizing a matching procedure, no significant difference is seen in total crop productivity for each day of labor utilized. Over time, total productivity could increase for the dynamic agroforestry plots as the companion crops and trees mature. As the program is relatively new and has undergone some changes, additional studies are needed to understand the benefits or challenges, especially for soil health, that might be realized further in the lifespan of the program.

The change of crop structure and its influencing factors in the Late Neolithic Nanyang Basin: New macrobotanical evidence from the Maotang site, central China

The Maotang site in the northeastern Nanyang Basin, central China, encompasses both the Qujialing (5300–4500 BP) and Shijiahe (4500–4200 BP) cultures. Based on the flotation of soil samples collected at the site, micromorphological identification confirmed the presence of three crop seeds, rice (Oryza sativa), foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), as well as 18 types of non–crop seeds, along with some fruits and nuts. The analysis indicated that during the Qujialing–Shijiahe Cultural period, the Maotang site functioned as a agricultural settlement cultivating a combination of rice and millet. Within this mixed farming, rice and foxtail millet dominated, while broomcorn millet occupied a relatively lower position. Notably, during the Qujialing Culture period, rice had greater significance than foxtail millet, and after entering the Shijiahe Culture period, rice and foxtail millet became nearly equally important. Based on relevant studies on paleoenvironment, agricultural history and archaeological culture, this article argues that cultural diffusion has had a significant impact on the evolution of crop structure during the Neolithic Nanyang Basin. Specifically, the northward expansion of the Qujialing Culture notably established a predominance of rice in the mixed cultivation system, which was more prevalent in the southwestern area of the basin. However, during the Shijiahe Culture period, due to the decline of the Shijiahe Culture's influence and the flourishing of archaeological cultures from the Central Plain, the position of foxtail millet increased obviously, and it nearly had the equal importance as rice in the northeastern area of the Nanyang basin. This study provides the latest archaeobotanical data from the transitional area of the central China, contributing to a further exploration on the relationship between the crop structure evolution and archaeological culture diffusion in the Neolithic period.

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) as an emerging companion crop in annual cropping systems: A systematic review

Sustainable intensification is considered an efficient alternative to conventional agriculture to feed a growing population while maintaining and benefitting the environment. Intercropping is one of the most studied practices to obtain production gains and other ecosystem services. Most intercrops involve legumes and cereals, but other species combinations should be explored to further increase the diversity of intercropping systems. Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.; Polygonaceae) is an emerging minor crop which is gaining attention in alternative intercropping systems.This review provides a comprehensive view of the state of the art on the role of buckwheat as a companion crop in arable cropping systems. Despite buckwheat being well-known for its weed-suppressive ability, intercropping using buckwheat for weed control has received little attention. Few crops have so far been considered in relation to the introduction of buckwheat in annual cropping systems. This review uncovers a largely untapped research field involving buckwheat. The research perspectives are multiple as buckwheat consumption is increasing and its attractive flower resources and rapid growth offer the provision of several agro-ecosystem services that directly and indirectly benefit crop yield stability.

Provision Grounds, Fruit, and Labour Conflicts in Jamaica, 1830s–1850s

ABSTRACT This article contributes to the scholarly literature on the rent controversy and labour shortages in Jamaica and the moral panic over idleness that attended the ‘Quashee’ stereotype, which proliferated among planters during apprenticeship (1834–1838) and persisted into the 1850s. While critics have previously understood the ‘Quashee’ stereotype popularized by Thomas Carlyle as antithetical to the sentimental discourse of a happy, industrious peasantry espoused by missionaries and abolitionists, this article traces some of their continuities through a lens of food studies. Using close readings of texts that engaged with provision grounds and discourses of idleness, natural bounty, and agricultural improvement from the 1830s to the late 1850s, it recontextualizes the ‘Quashee’ problem in the local and commercial interests in fruit that preceded the rise of the banana industry in the 1870s. The charges of idleness and insolence affixed to the provision grounds and fruit cultivation among the Jamaican peasantry were ostensibly resolved by the transition to large-scale exports, namely bananas. However, the patterns of mixed cultivation that emerged in slave provisioning systems and continued after emancipation laid the groundwork for the growth of peasant freeholds in the 1830s–1850s.

Effects of local farming practices on soil organic carbon content, enzymatic activities, and microbial community structure in semi-arid soils of Morocco

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is essential in semi-arid agricultural land for enhancing soil health, particularly through the promotion of microbial activities. This study assessed the impact of different agronomic practices on soil properties, microbial communities, and SOC levels in semi-arid Moroccan wheat fields. Three treatments were investigated: eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) companion planting (EU), and fallowing with harvest residue mulching (FA), with the latter involving both short (3 months; FAS) and long (15 months; FAL) fallow periods. The study revealed significant variation in soil characteristics and microbial communities between these agronomic management regimes. Notably, soils managed with FAL contained elevated SOC levels (1.2%) compared to other treatments (FAS and EU) which show lower SOC range (0.62–0.86%). Both labile C (water-soluble carbon) and recalcitrant C (humic substances) were increased by FAL. Additionally, soil microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity were observed to be high in FAL-managed soils, along with increased levels of extracellular enzymes related to nutrient cycling (β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, and urease). Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis indicated positive correlation between carbon content in soils and microbial populations. In contrast, soils managed with EU had significantly lower SOC levels, possibly due to differences in carbon fractionation. FAL increased soil enzymatic activities and enriched the microbial community when compared to EU management. In conclusion, this study indicated the importance of fallowing and fallowing period for conservation of SOC, and potential to mitigate negative effects of biophysical constraints on agricultural productivity in semi-arid soils of Northwest Africa.

Suppressing Ralstonia solanacearum and Bacterial Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Tomato Rhizosphere Soil through Companion Planting with Basil or Cilantro

The effects of companion planting on soil antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and associated microbial composition have remained largely unclear until now. In this study, we assessed the changes in the soil microbiome and ARGs frequencies for tomato growing soils that were companion planted with basil (TB) or cilantro (TC) using a metagenome approach. The abundance of the phytopathogen Ralstonia solanacearum was significantly lower in the TC or TB treatments compared to the tomato monoculture soils (TT). A significant enrichment of Pseudomonas and Aquabacterium and a depletion of Nocardioides and Streptomyces were observed in the TC treatment. Interestingly, both TC and TB companion planting reduced the absolute abundance and the number of subtypes of ARGs. The TC soil showed the lowest numbers of unique ARG subtypes, especially the ARGs resistant to vancomycin and rifamycin, as well as those associated with multidrug resistance. Furthermore, network analysis further revealed that Nocardioides and Streptomyces were potential hosts of ARGs, whereas Flavobacterium negatively correlated with mdtG, suggesting a suppressive effect in reducing ARGs. Together, our results suggest that the companion planting of tomatoes with basil or cilantro can reduce the risk of ARG accumulation, making it a feasible farming management tool to promote soil and plant health in sustainable agriculture.

Response of Intercropping Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) with Cowpea and Nitrogen Application on Growth and Yield of Sorghum

Sorghum grain yields have remained low despite the emergence of higher yield varieties, due to inadequate soil fertility, unsuitable cropping patterns, and restricted nitrogen fertilizer application (N). Cowpea integration and N utilization in sorghum-based cropping systems are likely to boost yield. However, knowledge of the impacts of sorghum-cowpea intercropping, nitrogen usage, and their interactions on companion crop performance is lacking. The effect of sorghum-cowpea intercropping and three N rates on the growth and yield of two sorghum varieties (ETS 2752 and ETS 4946) and two cowpea varieties (Keti and Bole) was investigated in RCBD with a split-plot arrangement, replicated three times. Sorghum grain yield was positively correlated with harvest index, fertile tiller m-2, leaf area index, panicle weight, and CGR. Sorghum/cowpea intercropping was more productive than sole (LER>1). ETS 2752 was superior to ETS 4946 in terms of growth and yield, hence it is recommended to farmers for commercial production. Therefore, the sole cropping system and N addition were effective in enhancing growth and grain yield of sorghum and cowpea, hence recommended for commercial production of ETS 2752. Intercropping is only recommended for sorghum production to improve household food security since it improves land productivity (LER>1).

Wheat companion plants reduced aphid and flea beetle infestations in Brassica vegetable crops in a multiple-year field study in central Germany

Alternative pest control systems such as companion plants are increasingly gaining importance owing to a reduced range of available synthetic insecticides and more rigorous regulation of their use in the EU. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of Brassica vegetables grown with wheat companion plants on relevant pests, respective natural enemies and harvest weight. Six trials were conducted in white cabbage and three in Chinese cabbage between 2017 and 2021. We identified an overall aphid-regulating effect for Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) and Myzus persicae (Sulz.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in white cabbage and a regulating effect on flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in both tested Brassica crops. Feeding by cabbage root fly Delia radicum L. (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) larvae on white cabbage roots was not consistently affected. Natural enemies including ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), hoverfly larvae (Diptera: Syrphidae), spiders (Araneida), ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), and rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) were assessed on crop plants or in pitfall traps. The activity density of rove beetles was increased by wheat companions in both Brassica crops, while that of ground beetles was reduced in white cabbage. The weight of harvested white cabbage was reduced by wheat companions, varying between a mean reduction of 7.67% and 40.08% in different experiments. In conclusion, wheat companion plants can be an additional tool for regulating pests in Brassica vegetables. However, competition effects on crop yield and the compatibility with other cultivation aspects, e.g. crop rotation, have to be considered.

Unlocking the potential of Kodo millet: reviving an indigenous super grain for tomorrow's nutrition.

Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.) is an underutilized crop that encompasses nutritional benefits and climate resilience, making it a viable option for future crop development with nutraceutical properties. The cultivation of this crop has ancient roots, where it was revered for its ability to thrive in times of famine and was a vital companion crop to rice. Dishes made with Kodo millet are highly palatable and can be easily integrated into mainstream rice-based dishes. Among all cereals, Kodo millet is distinguished by its gluten-free composition, high phosphorus content, and significant antioxidant potential, which contributes to a diet that may reduce cardiovascular disease risk. Often grown in rainfed zones by marginal farmers, Kodo millet is valued for its grain and fodder. This less demanding crop can tolerate both biotic and abiotic stress, allowing it to thrive in soils with low organic matter and with minimal inputs, making it an ideal dual-purpose crop for rainfed areas. Despite its nutritional and agricultural benefits, Kodo millet's popularity is hindered by challenges such as low yield, market demand, lodging at harvest, and poor dehulling recovery, which necessitate the development of high-yielding varieties through the latest breeding advancements. Systematic investment and concerted breeding efforts are essential to harness the full potential of this nutrient-dense crop. The absence of whole genome sequence for Kodo millet poses a barrier to uncovering novel genetic traits. Consequently, there is an imperative to establish a millet-based value chain that elevates these underutilized crops, shaping smart cropping patterns and enhancing nutritional profiles for sustainable diets. Accordingly, this review highlights the significance of Kodo millet and the impact of breeding to establish it as a smart food choice for the future.

Understanding the interactions of genotype with environment and management (G×E×M) to maize productivity in Conservation Agriculture systems of Malawi.

Climatic variability and soil fertility decline present a fundamental challenge for smallholder farmers to determine the optimum management practices in the production of maize. Optimizing genotype (G) and management (M) of maize under different environmental conditions (E) and their interactions are essential for enhancing maize productivity in the smallholder sector of Malawi where maize is the main staple food. Here, we evaluated over seven seasons, the performance of four commercial maize genotypes [including hybrids and one open pollinated variety (OPV)] managed under different Conservation Agriculture (CA) and conventional practices (CP) across on-farm communities of central and southern Malawi. Our results revealed significant G×E and E×M interactions and showed that hybrids such as DKC 80-53 and PAN 53 outyielded the other hybrid and the OPV in most of the environments while the OPV ZM523 had greater yields in environments with above-average rainfall and shorter in-season dry spells. These environments received a maximum of 1250 mm to 1500 mm of rainfall and yet the long-term averages were 855 mm and 1248 mm, respectively. Despite yielding lower, the OPV ZM523 also exhibited higher yield stability across environments compared to the hybrid MH 30, possibly due to its resilience to drought, heat stress, and low soil fertility conditions which are often prevalent in the target communities. Conservation Agriculture-based practices outyielded CP across the genotypes and environments. However, amongst the CA-based systems, intercropping of maize with pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp] and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp.) performed less than monocropping maize and then rotating it with a legume probably due to competition for moisture between the main and the companion crops in the intercrop. The key findings of this study suggest the need to optimize varietal and management options for particular environments to maximize maize productivity in Malawi. This means that smallholder farmers in Malawi should adopt hybrids and CA-based systems for enhanced yields but could also consider OPVs where the climate is highly variable. Further rigorous analysis that includes more abiotic stress factors is recommended for a better understanding of yield response.

The impact of mixed planting of Poaceae species in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau region on forage yield, soil nutrients, and soil microbial communities.

Establishing cultivated grassland in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region is an effective method to address the conflict between vegetation and livestock. However, the high altitude, low temperature, and arid climate in the region result in slow regeneration and susceptibility to degradation of mixed cultivation grassland containing perennial legumes and gramineous plants. Therefore, we aim to through field experiments, explore the feasibility of establishing mixed cultivation grassland of Poaceae species in the region by utilizing two grass species, Poa pratensis L. and Puccinellia tenuiflora. By employing a mixture of P. pratensis and P. tenuiflora to establish cultivated grassland, we observed significant changes in forage yield over time. Specifically, during the 3rd to 6th years of cultivation, the yield in the mixed grassland was higher than in monocultures. It exceeded the yield of monoculture P. tenuiflora by 19.38% to 29.14% and surpassed the monoculture of P. pratensis by 17.18% to 62.98%. Through the analysis of soil physicochemical properties and soil microbial communities in the cultivated grassland, the study suggests that the mixed grassland with Poaceae species can enhance soil enzyme activity and improve soil microbial communities. Consequently, this leads to increased soil nutrient levels, enhanced nitrogen fixation efficiency, and improved organic phosphorus conversion efficiency. Therefore, establishing mixed grasslands with Poaceae species in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region is deemed feasible.

Volatile chemical cues emitted by an agricultural companion plant (Cnidium monnieri) attract predatory lacewings (Chrysoperla sinica)

Plant volatiles play an important role in the recruitment of arthropod natural enemies and are widely used in foraging by many species. Therefore, identification of plants that release useful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for influencing natural enemies and for the control of pests can be helpful in conservation biological control. Cnidium monnieri (L.) can convene many predatory enemies (lady beetles, hoverflies, lacewings) as a functional plant. The Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder) is a dominant generalist predator, and can control the population of various pests in agricultural fields. However, how C. monnier recruits C. sinica and the chemical association between them is unknown. In this study, we tested the attractiveness of odor released by flowers and leaves of C. monnieri to C. sinica in Y-tube olfactometer. Next, we conducted solid phase microextraction (SPME), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and electrophysiological studies (EAG) to analyze the compounds and identified the volatile components which have effects on C. sinica. We also used a Y-tube olfactometer to verify the effectiveness of the volatile components on C. sinica under laboratory conditions. In olfactometer trials, C. sinica adults preferred flowers compared with leaves and fresh air. In GC–MS and electroantennography trials, seventy-six volatiles extracted from C. monnieri, twelve antenna-active components in three different concentrations (0.1 μg/mL, 1 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL) were detected for electroantennography. In the last behavioral identification assays, four synthetic compounds (10 μg/mL) had significant attractiveness of adult C. sinica antenna (i.e., γ-terpinene, trans-β-Ocimene, nerolidol, (Z)-3-Hexen-1-ol). These studies suggest that there is a chemical association between natural enemies C. sinica and the functional plant C. monnieri. This study provides a basis that can facilitate the production and application of attracting natural enemy and development and application of enhancing attractants.

Companion Plant Reading

Combining Donna Haraway’s call to acknowledge non-human significant others in her Companion Species Manifesto with the ‘biocentric form of literary criticism’11 Gagliano, Ryan and Vieira, ‘Introduction’, p. xi. advocated by critical plant studies, this essay uses the agricultural practice of companion planting as a Framework for reading beyond the canon of anglicised world literature. I analyse three short stories – Sofie Isager Ahl’s ‘Naboplanter’ (‘Companion Plants’, 2018), Can Xue’s ‘鸡仔的心愿’ (‘Chick’s Heart’s Desire’, 2020) and Audrey R. Hollis’ ‘Seedlings’ (2018) – that translate between the botanical and the human realms and use vegetal voices to challenge gendered social conventions, linguistic preconceptions and lingering anthropocentrism. By planting together texts in Chinese, Danish and English intermingled with the idiom of plants, I propose messy, multimodal and multilingual translation as a fundamental figuration in our pursuit of a planetary approach to comparative literature.

Adoption of Cereal–Legume Double Cropping toward More Sustainable Organic Systems in the Mediterranean Area

Environmental benefits can be achieved by organic farming systems; however, weed pressure and timely crop nutrition remain important drawbacks for many field crops. Agroecological practices, such as double cropping (e.g., intercropping and relay cropping), using forage legume species can provide nitrogen (N) to the companion crop through biological N fixation and tackle weed issues by competing for light, water and land. The present study investigated the effect of intercropping (IC) and relay-cropping (RC) systems of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn) and forage legumes (Trifolium subterraneum L., Medicago polymorpha L., and Lotus corniculatus L.) by varying organic N fertilization with the aim to reduce N-requirement and weed pressure and increase wheat grain yield and grain protein content in Mediterranean organic farming systems. N fertilizer significantly improved wheat grain yield and grain protein, while a null effect on legume and weed biomass yields was found. Double cropping (T. durum-M. polymorpha, and T. durum-L. corniculatus) enhanced wheat grain yield as compared to the control and the T. durum-T. subterraneum. IC significantly improved legume yield, grain protein and the land equivalent ratio (LER) and reduced weed dry biomass as compared with the RC and the control. Among legume species, T. subterraneum outperformed the others and was less affected by the wheat’s competitive performance. Nonetheless, M. polymorpha was as effective as T. subterraneum in controlling weeds. Weed dry biomass was linearly reduced by increasing legume yield; the relationship improved by cumulating wheat grain yield to legume yield. Overall, this study indicated that double cropping, especially IC, can be a suitable agroecological practice to tackle weed issues and reduce N-requirement in Mediterranean organic cereal-based systems.

Productivity and Economic Feasibility of Pigeonpea Base Companion Cropping under Additive Series Planting System

Over two consecutive Kharif seasons in 2016-2017 and 2017-18, a study was conducted at the Soil Conservation and Water Management Farm of C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology in Kanpur. The study aimed to determine the yields and economic benefits (in terms of net profit) of the primary crops: pigeonpea, black gram, and sesame. The experimental field's soil was classified as sandy loam with a pH of 7.8, containing 0.32% organic carbon, 17.3 kg/ha of available P2O5, and 181.2 kg/ha of available K2O, indicating a medium fertility level. The experiment included five different cropping treatments: sole pigeonpea, sole black gram, sole sesame, a combination of pigeonpea and black gram (1+1) in an additive series, and a combination of pigeonpea and sesame (1+1) in an additive series. The combined cultivation of pigeon pea and black gram yielded the highest productivity at 23.53 quintals per hectare (q/ha), outperforming the pigeonpea and sesame combination at 20.30 q/ha and sole pigeonpea at 17.34 q/ha. The analysis of aggregated data revealed that the highest cultivation cost was Rs. 57,876.00 per hectare for pigeonpea and black gram, followed by pigeonpea and sesame at Rs. 56,191 per hectare. The greatest gross returns were observed with the pigeonpea and black gram combination at Rs. 134,024 per hectare, with a net return of Rs. 76,148 and a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1:2.32. This was followed by the pigeonpea and sesame combination, whereas sole pigeonpea cultivation resulted in a net return of Rs. 50,387 and a BCR of 1:2.01.

Effect of Companion Cropping of Sesame on Development of Pigeonpea

The field study was laid out during two consecutive rainy seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 at Soil Conservation and Water Management Farm, C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur. The main objective was to find out the yield of main crop of pigeonpea and sesame and their economic I term of net profit. The fertility status of experimental plot was medium. The three treatments i.e., pigeonpea sole, sesame sole and pigeonpea + sesame (1+1) additive series were tested. The total productivity of pigeonpea + sesame was highest (20.30 q/ha) in comparison to pigeonpea sole (17.34 q/ha) and sesame alone (6.32 q/ha). The pooled data display that maximum cost of cultivation Rs. 56191/ha observed under pigeonpea + sesame cropping system. The highest gross return Rs. 116053/ha, net return Rs. 54862/ha and BCR 1:2.07 were also recorded with pigeonpea + sesame (1+1) additive series.

White Mustard, Sweet Alyssum, and Coriander as Insectary Plants in Agricultural Systems: Impacts on Ecosystem Services and Yield of Crops

The main reason for adding plants to accompany the main crop is to protect it from pests and diseases. We reviewed the effectiveness of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.), sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima L.), and coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) in this regard. White mustard proximity had a strong positive influence on the occurrence of Syrphidae, parasitoids, Coccinellidae, and Carabidae, as well as on the fertility of Syrphidae and the longevity of parasitoids—all of which are essential for biological pest control. It also reduced many pests and diseases. The influence of S. alba on yield depends on the spacing used and the species of protected plant. Sweet alyssum positively affected the occurrence of Syrphidae, Coccinellidae, Anthocoridae, epigeal, and soil fauna, as well as the longevity of parasitoids and Anthocoridae. Its effect on the crop yield is variable, depending on the references consulted. The sensitivity of L. maritima to Phyllotreta spp. excludes it as a companion plant for hosts of these pests. Coriander positively affected the occurrence of Chrysopidae, Coccinellidae, Staphylinidae, and Aranea, as well as the longevity of parasitoids and the egg-laying of Syrphidae. It also reduced some crop pests. Introduction of the reviewed plants can improve the biodiversity of beneficial entomofauna that can help control pests and reduce diseases, with benefits to crop and yield. The use of synthetic insecticides can thus be greatly reduced, though it is not always possible to avoid them completely.