Sole Wheat Research Articles

Performance of Kinnow (<i>Citrus reticulata</i> Blanco) based Agri-horticultural Systems during Intermediate Stage of Fruiting in Light Textured Soil of Arid Rajasthan

Kinnow (Citrus reticulata Blanco) cultivation is increasing in IGNP area due to its profitability and good market value. It is cultivated as sole crop and the interspaces are left unutilized. Growing suitable intercrops in the left over spaces of kinnow may generate extra income to the farmers. Hence, an experiment was conducted to study the productivity and profitability of kinnow based intercropping systems in hyper arid partially irrigated zone of western Rajasthan.The study was conducted during rabi and kharif seasons of 2015-16 and 2016-17, respectively in seven years old plantations of kinnow with five treatments viz (i) kinnow + wheat - groundnut, (ii) kinnow + fenugreek - cluster bean, (iii) sole wheat -groundnut, (iv) sole fenugreek - cluster bean and (v) sole kinnow. Intercropping showed positive effect on growth and yield of kinnow with highest yield in kinnow + wheat -groundnut followed by kinnow + fenugreek - cluster bean. However, the yield of intercrops decreased by 37-42 % when grown in association with kinnow as compared to their sole cropping. The annual system productivity in terms of cluster bean equivalent yield (CEY) was minimum in sole kinnow (1.15 t ha-1) and increased when kinnow was intercropped with fenugreek-cluster bean (2.95 t ha-1) and wheat-groundnut (4.97 t ha-1). There were 2.56 and 4.33 times higher annual system productivity of kinnow + fenugreek-cluster bean and kinnow + wheat - groundnut intercropping system as compared to sole kinnow. The share of kinnow in system productivity was 42.0 and 24.4% and in net return was 43.5 and 18.0% in kinnow + fenugreek-cluster bean and kinnow + wheat - groundnut intercropping system, respectively. Intercropping systems of kinnow + fenugreek - cluster bean and kinnow + wheat - groundnut showed higher physical as well as economic water productivity as compared to sole kinnow. The water productivity in terms of gross return (WPGR) increased from Rs. 4.99 m-3 in sole kinnow to Rs.7.94 and 9.89 m-3 in kinnow + fenugreek - cluster bean and kinnow + wheat -groundnut intercropping systems, respectively. Net return and BCR of intercropping systems were more as compared to sole kinnow which indicated that the intercropping systems of kinnow provides higher economic benefits through additional return from crop produce

Seasonal soil health dynamics in soy-wheat relay intercropping

There is growing interest in intercropping as a practice to increase productivity per unit area and ecosystem functioning in agricultural systems. Relay intercropping with soy and winter wheat may benefit soil health due to increased diversity and longer undisturbed soil cover, yet this remains largely unstudied. Using a field experiment in Eastern Germany, we studied the temporal dynamics of chemical, biological, and physical indicators of soil health in the topsoil over a year of cultivation to detect early effects of soy-wheat relay intercropping compared to sole cropping. Indicators included microbial abundance, permanganate-oxidizable carbon, carbon fractions, pH, and water infiltration. Relay intercropping showed no unique soil health benefits compared to sole cropping, likely affected by drought that stressed intercropped soy. Relay intercropping did, however, maintain several properties of both sole crops including an increased MAOM C:N ratio and higher soil water infiltration. The MAOM C:N ratio increased by 4.2 and 6.2% in intercropping and sole soy and decreased by 5% in sole wheat. Average near-saturated soil water infiltration rates were 12.6, 14.9, and 6.0 cm hr−1 for intercropping, sole wheat, and sole soy, respectively. Cropping system did not consistently affect other indicators but we found temporal patterns of these indicators, showing their sensitivity to external changes.

Legume choice and planting configuration influence intercrop nutrient and yield gains through complementarity and selection effects in legume-based wheat intercropping systems

CONTEXTBy exploiting the complementarities between intercrops, cereal/legume intercropping provides an opportunity to increase legume production with sustained cereal yield. However, little is known about how legume choice and spatial configurations affect the performance and economic viability of legume-based wheat intercropping, especially in arid-irrigated conditions. OBJECTIVEWe conducted this study to investigate the complementarity of three different legumes (chickpea, soybean, and pea) with wheat and determine the appropriate strip width for intercrops. METHODSA three-year study (2021−2023) was conducted to evaluate the effects of legume choice and spatial configuration (narrow strips of 0.6 m (NS) and partially wide strips of 1.2 m (pWS) for each intercrop) on wheat/soybean, wheat/pea, and wheat/chickpea intercropping, and results were compared with their sole systems for dry matter, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake, yield, and economic returns. We also quantified the intensity of the net biodiversity effect (NE), complementarity effect (CE), and selection effect (SE) for yield, N (NEN, CEN, and SEN), and P (NEP, CEP, and SEP) gains of legume-based wheat intercropping systems. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSOur results show that intercrops achieved the highest dry matter, nutrient uptake, and grain yield with pWS compared to NS. The intercropped chickpea, soybean, and pea achieved 67–71%, 55–62%, and 62–70% of their sole system yield. The intercropped wheat with chickpea, soybean, and pea produced 66–69%, 57–62%, and 62–66% of sole wheat yield, respectively. Results also confirmed a positive NE with both NS and pWS, mainly due to the higher CE, which ranges from 37% to 104% of NE under all intercropping systems. The nutrient uptake gain with NS and pWS ranged from −3.4 kg ha−1 to 101.5 kg ha−1 (NEN) and − 0.2 kg ha−1 to 13.8 kg ha−1 (NEP). On average, maximum LER (1.36), NE (1012 kg ha−1), NEN (86 kg ha−1), and NEP (12 kg ha−1) were obtained with pWS in wheat/chickpea, followed by wheat/pea and wheat/soybean intercropping. Overall, wheat/pea intercropping with pWS generated the highest net profit (2014, 1533, and 1394 USD ha−1 in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively), which was primarily linked to the high market price of pea than chickpea and soybean. SIGNIFICANCEThese results imply that legume choice and spatial configurations influenced complementary and facilitation interactions between intercrops, and wheat/chickpea and wheat/pea intercropping with pWS could be adopted as a productive cropping strategy for obtaining higher and diverse crop yields with reduced land and nutrients than the sole wheat system.

Relay strip intercropping of wheat and cotton under limited water conditions

AbstractWheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) relay strip intercropping involves cultivating wheat sown in autumn and cotton sown in spring, allowing the two crops to grow together for ∼2 months. Despite its prevalence in cotton‐growing regions globally, this agricultural practice remains untapped in Turkey, where the emphasis on resource use efficiency and the competition between staple and cash crops are paramount. To address this, we conducted a study comparing three cropping systems under both well‐watered and limited water conditions: sole wheat with a row spacing of 13.5 cm, sole cotton with a row spacing of 70 cm, and an intercropping system consisting of four rows of wheat and two rows of cotton, with row spacings of 13.5 cm and 40.5 cm, respectively. In intercropped wheat and cotton, the relative wheat yield was 0.68, while the relative cotton yield was 0.73, resulting in a combined relative yield of 1.41 when compared to monoculture. The land equivalent ratio (1.44) and area time equivalent ratio (1.08) consistently exceeded 1.0, particularly under limited watering conditions and concurrent heat stress observed in the second year of the experiment. Our findings indicate that wheat–cotton relay intercropping holds significant potential as a highly effective approach to enhance the production of both cotton and wheat in Turkey, particularly in stressful conditions such as limited water availability.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum)-based intercropping systems in Rajasthan’s Hadoti region: Productivity and economic viability

A study was carried out during three successive winter (rabi) seasons (2018–19 to 2020–21) at the Agricultural Research Station in Ummedganj, Kota, Rajasthan to determine the productivity and economic viability of intercropping systems based on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in the Hadoti region of Rajasthan. Nine various chickpeabased intercropping systems, viz. Sole chickpea; Sole linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.); Sole coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.); Sole wheat (Triticum aestivum L.); Sole mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.]; Chickpea + linseed (6:2); Chickpea + coriander (6:2); Chickpea + wheat (6:2); and Chickpea + mustard (6:2) were investigated in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. According to combined statistics, the chickpea + mustard intercropping system had the highest chickpea grain yield and equivalent yield (1,865 kg/ha and 2,574 kg/ ha, respectively) when compared to all other intercropping systems. Results of competitive indices revealed that compared to rest of the intercropping system, chickpea + mustard (6:2) recorded significantly higher LER (1.25), MAI (18,462) and SPI (2912 kg/ha), while the lowest land equivalent ratio (LER), monetary advantage index (MAI), system productivity index (SPI) and production efficiency (PE) were recorded in the chickpea + wheat intercropping system. The chickpea + mustard intercropping system yielded values of competition ratio (3.56), aggressivity (-0.05), system profitability index (2912), relative crowding coefficient (13.2), and area time equivalent ratio (1.24), that were sustainable and producible in comparison to other treatments. In terms of economics, compared to all other intercropping and solo crops, the chickpea + mustard intercropping system yielded the chickpea’s most significant net returns (`93,681/ha) and benefit cost (B:C) ratio (3.11). So, for south-eastern Rajasthan, the mustard and chickpea intercropping system is a productive and sustainable system.

Effects of Integrated Application of Vermicompost and Inorganic Fertilizers on Selected Soil Characteristics and Productivity of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) in Dire and Legedadi Watersheds of Ethiopia

The adoption of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) practices can improve soil quality and sustainably increase crop yield while slowing down the rate of ongoing degradation. This research assessed the effects of selected ISFM practices on soil properties at the Dire and Legedadi watersheds, central highlands of Ethiopia, in the 2021 and 2022 cropping seasons. Eight treatments were selected (sole wheat, sole faba bean, 100% recommended NPS + urea fertilizers, 100% recommended vermicompost (VC), wheat with half dose both NPS + urea and VC, wheat and faba bean intercropping with half dose both NPS + urea and VC, wheat and faba bean intercropping with half‐dose NPS + urea fertilizers, and wheat and faba bean intercropping with 50% VC). The treatments were studied on farmers’ fields using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Analysis of variance showed that soil samples collected from each plot indicated significant differences in soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (Pav), exchangeable bases (Ca2+, Na+, and Kexc), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Soil pH and moisture showed improvement in combined fertilizers application compared to the preplanting soil sample. A combined application of VC and NPS + urea fertilizers significantly (p < 0.05) increased SOC, Pav, K+, Na+, and CEC compared to the control. A combined application of VC and NPS + urea fertilizers improved the soil quality. The highest TN contents of 0.36% at the Dire site and 0.30% at the Legedadi site were obtained with the full dose VC treatment. Additionally, this treatment resulted in the greatest water‐holding capacity and soil carbon stock at both sites. Similarly, the wheat‐faba bean intercropped plots showed a significant (p < 0.05) effect on the soil carbon stock and sequestration over the control in both study sites. Based on the results of the current study, it can be concluded that the combined application of a half dose of each VC and NPS + urea fertilizers improved most soil physicochemical properties at both sites. This suggests that using a combination of VC and NPS + urea fertilizers can help farmers reduce their inorganic fertilizer needs by 50%.

Foliar Spray of NPK and Gibberellic Acid on Growth and Yield of Chickpea Based Intercropping System

A field experiment was carried out during rabi seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21 at Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with 3 replications. The treatments were comprised of 9 main plots, viz., sole chickpea, sole wheat, sole linseed, sole safflower, sole mustard, chickpea + wheat (6:3), chickpea + linseed (6:2), chickpea + safflower (6:2), chickpea + mustard (6:2) and 3 sub-plots viz., water(control), foliar spray of 1% NPK (19:19:19) and GA3 (100 ppm). Results revealed that maximum values of growth parameter (like plant height, dry matter accumulation), yield attributes (like number of pods, capsules, capitula, siliqua/plant and spikes/m2, 100-seed weight in chickpea and 1000-seed weight), grain and straw yield as well as harvest index were recorded under chickpea+ mustard (6:2). With regards to different foliar spray treatments, the maximum values for the above-mentioned parameters were found to be higher under the foliar spray of GA3 (100 ppm) at 45 days after sowing during both the years of experimentation.

Increasing diversity gradient in lentil mixtures for intercropping with wheat reveals an increase in lentil biomass with minimal impact on mycorrhizal activity

The management of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is crucial for sustainable agricultural systems, given its beneficial impacts on soil health and crop productivity. This study aimed to assess the effect of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) mixtures for intercropping with durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) on mycorrhiza and investigate the role of legume intraspecific diversity in mycorrhizal development and crop biomass production. Since both intraspecific and interspecific diversity (i.e., cultivar mixtures and intercropping) have an effect in shaping soil microbiota in the rhizosphere, we hypothesised that increasing the level of diversification in the system enhances the provision of services (e.g., aboveground biomass accumulation), due to enhanced microbial activity and diversity. Specifically, increasing diversity within lentil cultivar mixtures strengthens the affinity of wheat for mycorrhiza, thereby influencing wheat mycorrhization in wheat-lentil intercrops. To test our hypothesis, we designed three lentil cultivar mixtures with increasing diversity levels using a trait-based approach, drawing from a pool of Italian lentil landraces characterised in a previous study. As an additional factor, we intercropped lentil mixtures with wheat and compared it with sole wheat and sole lentil commercial cultivar. In both experimental years, intercropping lentil mixtures with wheat consistently yielded higher soil mycorrhization levels (46% in 2021 and 52% in 2022) compared to sole wheat cultivation (23% in 2021 and 34 % in 2022). Nevertheless, AMF colonisation in lentil roots was significantly higher in sole crops (55% in 2021 and 70% in 2022, except for the commercial cultivar) compared to intercrops (35% in 2021 and 60% in 2022). This difference could be attributed to the presence of wheat, which might have suppressed the capacity of lentils to establish successful symbiosis with mycorrhiza. On the other hand, AMF colonisation of wheat roots in 2022 was significantly higher (52%) when intercropped with lentils than when cultivated as sole wheat (40%). Concerning biomass production in lentil mixtures in 2022, we observed a positive correlation between lentil biomass and the number of functional groups in the mixtures, both as pure stands (R2 = 0.19, p = 0.06) and intercrops (R2 = 0.29, p = 0.01). Additionally, in 2022, the total biomass of the intercropped system increased with the increase in diversity. Further experiments, incorporating microbial genetic analysis, are necessary to uncover potential associations between functional mixtures and AMF composition.

Intercropping on French farms: Reducing pesticide and N fertiliser use while maintaining gross margins

Experimental studies to date have demonstrated the agronomic and environmental benefits of intercropping, making it a key diversification method for reducing chemical inputs in agriculture. However, intercropping is still a niche practice in European cropping systems, particularly for arable crops. Few studies have focused on farmers’ perspectives or used farm data to assess the on-farm performances of intercropping. Here, we present an analysis of data collected from farms of the DEPHY network, a demonstration farm network that aims to show that pesticide use can be reduced through changes in farming practices. We focused our study on four main species in France: winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.) and rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). We carried out paired comparison tests between sole crops and intercrops for each species (16 pairs for winter wheat, 12 for winter barley, 15 for peas and 31 for rapeseed) to compare the use of pesticides (herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and all pesticides combined), mineral nitrogen fertiliser and the gross margin. We showed that pesticide use was reduced on average by 40–50% in the case of wheat- and barley-based intercrops compared with sole wheat and barley crops, respectively. Pesticide use for peas was reduced by 72% on average. Nitrogen fertiliser use was also reduced by up to 38% for wheat. On the other hand, in the case of rapeseed, which is mainly intercropped with unharvested companion plants, we found no significant differences in pesticide or fertiliser use between the sole crops and intercrops. This suggests that farmers must choose companion plants carefully depending on their objectives and desired services. Finally, our findings show that intercropping negatively affects gross margins for wheat, but gross margins are maintained for barley-, pea- and rapeseed-based intercrops compared to sole crops.

Effect of crop combination on yield performance, nutrient uptake, and land use advantage of cereal/legume intercropping systems

ContextCrop type and temporal synchronization are crucial for improving the productivity of intercropping systems, especially with reduced inputs (nitrogen, N, and phosphorus, P). However, the effects of crop type and temporal dynamics on nutrient uptake and yield advantage of cereal/legume intercropping systems are still unclear. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the effects of different temporal dynamics of intercrops on growth, nutrient-use advantage, land productivity, and economic viability of cereal/legume intercropping systems under arid irrigated conditions. MethodsIn this field study, we used the equal land proportion for all intercrops in both intercropping systems: wheat/chickpea intercropping (wheat/chickpea), where legume (chickpea) was the first-sown crop; and wheat/soybean intercropping (wheat/soybean), with cereal (wheat) being the first-planted crop), and all strip intercropping results were compared with their sole systems: sole chickpea (SCp), sole wheat (SW), and sole soybean (SS). Results and conclusionsHere, we revealed that the improved complementarity and facilitation interactions in wheat/chickpea linked with better phenological synchronization between wheat and chickpea, which resulted in higher relative grain yields, primarily gained from greater biomass accumulation and its translocation towards ears/pods, seeds, and seed weight, than the wheat and soybean in wheat/soybean. Similarly, the intercropped wheat accumulated a significantly higher N (15%) and P (14%) under wheat/chickpea than in wheat/soybean, whereas, in legumes, the N and P uptake of chickpea in wheat/chickpea was 19% and 13% higher than that of soybean in wheat/soybean, respectively. On average, in wheat/soybean, wheat and soybean achieved 62% of SW and 58% of SS yields, while in wheat/chickpea, wheat and chickpea produced 71% and 67% of SW and SCp yields, respectively, demonstrating the advantage of sowing legumes earlier than cereals in intercropping systems. Overall, in wheat/chickpea, the system-level nutrient- and land-use advantage, measured as the land, nitrogen, and phosphorus equivalent ratios, were 1.38, 1.59, and 1.62, respectively, which increased the net profit of wheat/chickpea by 55% compared to wheat/soybean, suggesting that intercropping systems require fewer anthropogenic inputs to produce higher crop yields than sole systems. SignificanceOur results contribute to understanding the effects of crop type and temporal synchronization of intercrop species for maximizing the land productivity of cereal/legume intercropping systems in arid irrigated regions.

Spatial differences influence nitrogen uptake, grain yield, and land-use advantage of wheat/soybean relay intercropping systems

Cereal/legume intercropping is becoming a popular production strategy for higher crop yields and net profits with reduced inputs and environmental impact. However, the effects of different spatial arrangements on the growth, grain yield, nitrogen uptake, and land-use advantage of wheat/soybean relay intercropping are still unclear, particularly under arid irrigated conditions. Therefore, in a three-year field study from 2018 to 2021, soybean was relay intercropped with wheat in different crop configurations (0.9 m, narrow strips; 1.8 m, medium strips; and 2.7 m, wide strips), and the results of intercropping systems were compared with their sole systems. Results revealed that intercrops with wide strips outperformed the narrow and medium strips, when the objective was to obtain higher total leaf area, dry matter, nitrogen uptake, and grain yield on a given land area due to reduced interspecific competition between intercrops. Specifically, at maturity, wide strips increased the dry matter accumulation (37% and 58%) and its distribution in roots (37% and 55%), straw (40% and 61%), and grains (30% and 46%) of wheat and soybean, respectively, compared to narrow strips. This enhanced dry matter in wide strips improved the soybean’s competitive ability (by 17%) but reduced the wheat’s competitive ability (by 12%) compared with narrow strips. Noticeably, all intercropping systems accumulated a significantly higher amount of nitrogen than sole systems, revealing that wheat/soybean relay intercropping requires fewer anthropogenic inputs (nitrogen) and exerts less pressure on the ecosystem than sole systems. Overall, in wide strips, intercropped wheat and soybean achieved 62% and 71% of sole wheat and soybean yield, respectively, which increased the greater total system yield (by 19%), total land equivalent ratio (by 24%), and net profit (by 34%) of wide strips compared to narrow strips. Our study, therefore, implies that the growth parameters, grain yields, nutrient accumulation, and land-use advantage of intercrop species could be improved with the proper spatial arrangement in cereal/legume intercropping systems.

Effect of Row Ratio on Growth and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Mustard (Brassica nigra) Intercropping System

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi 2022 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P) on the topic “Effect of row ratio on growth and yield of wheat and mustard intercropping system”. To study treatments consisting with row Proportions with wheat and mustard intercropping. The soil of experimental plot was sandy loam in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction (pH 8.0), low in organic carbon (0.28 %), available N (225 kg/ha), available P (19.50 kg/ha) and available K (92 kg/ha). There were 8 treatments each being replicated thrice and laid out in Randomized Block Design. The results revealed that treatment 1 (Sole wheat cropping) recorded significantly higher Plant height (89.4 cm), plant dry weight (16.15 g), number of effective tillers/m2 (634.01), number of grains/spike (52.80), grain yield (4.02 t/ha), straw yield (6.73 t/ha) of wheat and treatment 2 (Sole mustard cropping) recorded significant and higher Plant height (120.50 cm), plant dry weight (34.18 g), number of siliqua/plant (210.47), number of seeds/siliqua (22.90), test weight (3.66 g), seed yield (1.27 t/ha), stover yield (2.65 t/ha) and Harvest index (32.33 %) in mustard.

Effect of Row Ratio and Planting Methods on Growth, Yield Performance of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Mentha (Mentha arvensis L.)

This study was investigates the effects of row ratio and planting methods on the cultivation of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and mentha (Mentha arvensis L.). Mentha is also called Japanese mint, it is an important essential oil-bearing plant of the family Lamiaceae. Essential oil obtained from the leaves used in aromatherapy, flavour, and pharmaceutical industries. Hence, a field experiment was conducted during 2016-17 at the Soil Conservation and Water Management Farm to investigate the response of mentha when intercropped with wheat under various row ratios and planting methods. The trial was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications keeping one variety of Mentha ‘Shivalik’& Wheat ‘Halna’. The experiment consisting of nine treatments are T1:Sole Mentha direct sowing (50 cm apart), T2:sole mentha transplanting (50 cm apart), T3:sole wheat (25 cm apart), T4:wheat+mentha (1:1), T5:wheat+mentha (1:1), T6:wheat+mentha (2:2), T7:wheat+mentha (2:2), T8:wheat paired+mentha (2:3), T9: wheat paired+mentha (2:3). The results showed that the highest number of leaves per plant (457 at maturity) and number of branches per plant (80.97 at 90 DAS) were observed in Wheat Paired+Mentha (T9). The sole wheat (T3) exhibited the maximum number of tillers per plant in wheat (6.20). wheat+mentha (T4) had the highest yield attributes for wheat. The higher herbage yield of mentha (177 q/ha) was found in wheat+mentha (T7). Sole Mentha direct sowing (T1) gave the highest oil content (0.85%) and oil yield (163.35 l/ha) of mentha. The wheat paired+mentha (T8) recorded the highest equivalent oil yield (189.97 l/ha) and land equivalent ratio (1.50). However, sole wheat (T3) yielded the maximum grain yield (39.80 q/ha), straw yield (74.52 q/ha), and harvesting index (38.95%).

Effect of Row Ratio and Planting Methods on Growth, Water Use Efficiency, Yield and Economics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Mentha (Mentha arvensis L.)

This study examines the intercropping system of wheat and mentha involves the simultaneous cultivation of two or more crops on the same piece of land for higher land productivity. Japanese mint, a member of the Lamiaceae family, has a potent essential oil. Oil extracted from the leaves for use in aromatherapy, food flavouring, and medicine. Hence, a field experiment was conducted to study the effect of Row ratio and Planting methods on Growth, Yield Performance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Mentha (Mentha arvensis L.) was conducted during 2016-17 at the Soil Conservation and Water Management Farm to investigate the response of mentha when intercropped with wheat under various row ratio and planting methods. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replication keeping one variety of Mentha ‘Shivalik’& Wheat ‘Unnat Halna’. The experiment consisting of nine treatments are T1: Sole Mentha direct sowing (50cm apart), T2: Sole Mentha transplanting (50cm apart), T3: Sole Wheat (25cm apart), T4: Wheat+Mentha (d, 1:1), T5: Wheat+Mentha (t, 1:1), T6:Wheat+Mentha (d, 2:2), T7:Wheat+Mentha (t, 2:2), T8: Wheat Paired+Mentha (d, 2:3), T9: Wheat Paired+Mentha (t, 2:3). The results indicated that Sole Wheat (T3) had the highest plant population (662.40 initially, 326 final), plant height (83.80 cm), and grain yield (39.80 q/ha) for wheat. In the case of mentha, Wheat Paired+Mentha (T8) exhibited the maximum final plant population (119.43), plant height (72.51 at maturity), and equivalent oil yield (189.05 l/ha). Wheat Paired+Mentha (T8) also recorded the highest total water use (647 mm), water use efficiency (0.292 kg/ha/mm of water), land equivalent ratio (1.50), and economic parameters such as gross return (228,868), net return (160,828), and B:C ratio (3.36). The maximum oil yield (163.35 l/ha) was found in Sole Mentha direct sowing (T1).

Nitrogen application enhances yield, yield-attributes, and physiological characteristics of dryland wheat/maize under strip intercropping.

Intercropping has been acknowledged as a sustainable practice for enhancing crop productivity and water use efficiency under rainfed conditions. However, the contribution of different planting rows towards crop physiology and yield is elusive. In addition, the influence of nitrogen (N) fertilization on the physiology, yield, and soil water storage of rainfed intercropping systems is poorly understood; therefore, the objective of this experiment was to study the contribution of different crop rows on the physiological, yield, and related traits of wheat/maize relay-strip intercropping (RSI) with and without N application. The treatments comprised of two factors viz. intercropping with three levels (sole wheat, sole maize, and RSI) and two N application rates, with and without N application. Results showed that RSI significantly improved the land use efficiency and grain yield of both crops under rainfed conditions. Intercropping with N application (+N treatment) resulted in the highest wheat grain yield with 70.37 and 52.78% increase as compared with monoculture and without N application in 2019 and 2020, respectively, where border rows contributed the maximum followed by second rows. The increase in grain yield was attributed to higher values of the number of ears per square meter (10-25.33% more in comparison to sole crop without N application) during both study years. The sole wheat crop without any N application recorded the least values for all yield-related parameters. Despite the absence of significant differences, the relative decrease in intercropped maize under both N treatments was over 9% compared to the sole maize crop, which was mainly ascribed to the border rows (24.65% decrease compared to the sole crop) that recorded 12 and 13% decrease in kernel number and thousand-grain weight, respectively than the sole crop. This might be attributed to the reduced photosynthesis and chlorophyll pigmentation in RSI maize crop during the blended growth period. In a nutshell, it can be concluded that wheat/maize RSI significantly improved the land use efficiency and the total yield compared to the sole crops' yield in arid areas in which yield advantages were mainly ascribed to the improvement in wheat yield.

Agro-Techniques for Enhancing Wheat Productivity under Dry-land Conditions; An Overview

Wheat, being a most important stable food crop of the world and second most important food crop after rice in India, played vital role in food security of the country. Wheat is grown in India in 6 wheat growing zones, both under irrigated and dry land conditions with a lot of variation in yield. Agronomic practices such as planting pattern, seeding rate, nitrogen (N) application strategy as well as cultivars influences the pattern of use of soil water [1]. Despite sizeable area under dry land condition, production is very low mainly due to lack of proper adaptation of agro-technology. Although, there is sufficient scope to increase the dry land wheat productivity by treating seed with 1% Potassium salts, sowing drought tolerant varieties on or before 20th November in moist zone that gives more yield as compared to delayed sowing. Fertilizer application in the moist zone @ 50, 45 and 30 Kg N, P2O5, K2O ha-1, and one foliar application @ 2 % urea performed best under dry-land condition. Intercropping of dry land wheat with legume and oilseed (4:1) give more wheat equivalent yield over sole wheat. Weed management during (30-45 DAS) critical period of crop-weed competition increase wheat productivity.

Influence of wheat based intercropping system by irrigation scheduling under limited water conditions

An experiment was conducted during three consecutive years of Rabi (2011-12 to 2013-14) at Agricultural Research Station-Ummedganj, Agriculture University, Kota (Rajasthan) on wheat based intercropping system. The experiment consisted of ten treatment combinations viz., two irrigation regimes (IW/CPE ratio 0.4 and 0.6) and five intercropping system (wheat + gram (6:4), wheat + mustard (6:4), wheat + fenugreek (6:4), wheat + field pea (6:4) and sole wheat) were under taken in split plot design with four replications.It is evident from pooled data the maximum wheat equivalent yield (53.68 q/ha) was observed with irrigation regime at IW/CPE ratio 0.6 over application of IW/CPE ratio 0.4 (45.04 q/ha). Among intercropping, wheat + gram (6:4) intercropping system gave significantly higher wheat equivalent yield (58.50 q/ha) overwheat + mustard (6:4)(50.91 q/ha), wheat + fenugreek (6:4)(46.28 q/ha) and wheat + field pea (6:4)(46.08 q/ha) intercropping system as well as sole wheat (45.04 q/ha), respectively. Significantly higher water use efficiency (23.49kg/ha-cm) was recorded under wheat + gram (6:4) intercropping system over wheat + mustard (6:4), wheat + fenugreek (6:4) and wheat + field pea (6:4) intercropping system as well as sole wheat.The maximum net return (Rs.55810/- ha-1) and B:C ratio (3.6) was observed with irrigation regime at IW/CPE ratio 0.6 as compared to IW/CPE ratio 0.4. Among intercropping, wheat + gram (6:4) intercropping system gave significantly higher net return (Rs.62426/- ha-1) and B:C ratio (4.0) over wheat + mustard (6:4), wheat + fenugreek (6:4) and wheat + field pea (6:4) intercropping system as well as sole wheat.

Optimizing Maize Belt Width Enhances Productivity in Wheat/Maize Intercropping Systems

Wheat/maize intercropping has been widely practiced in northwestern China. It is crucial to optimize the canopy structure and geometric configurations to enhance the performance of the system. This research determined the responses of intercrops to the different canopy structures created by the different wheat/maize intercropping systems. Field experiments were carried out in 2012, 2013, and 2014 at Wuwei, Gansu. Three intercropping patterns—six rows of wheat alternated with two rows of maize (6W2M), six rows of wheat alternated with three rows of maize (6W3M), and six rows of wheat alternated with four rows of maize (6W4M)—were compared with sole wheat and sole maize. The results showed that maize plant heights differed between the inner rows and the border rows, and the difference was greater for the 6W3M system than for the 6W4M system. The three intercropping systems had an average land-use equivalent ratio (LER, calculated based on grain yield) of 1.25, indicating an increase in land-use efficiency by 25% compared to the corresponding sole crops. The shape of maize strips in 6W3M optimized the canopy structure and increased the productivity of wheat and maize. The wheat in 6W3M had significantly more grain yield compared with the sole wheat and the 6W2M due to the maize belt shape, which resulted in the soil evaporation negatively affecting the intercropped wheat grain yield of the 6W3M. Similarly, the maize belt shape facilitated the light penetration and enhanced the reproductive growth by increasing the two cobs per plant rate (TCR) of the maize. The highest TCR of the 6W3M produced a higher maize grain yield than the 6W2M and sole maize in the three growing seasons. The maize belt width in the strip intercropping system had a significant effect on the grain yield of both wheat and maize, which reduced water evaporation, harmonized light distribution, and increased productivity.

Impacts of Interspecific Interactions on Crop Growth and Yield in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/Maize (Zea mays L.) Strip Intercropping under Different Water and Nitrogen Levels

Interspecific interactions and recovery growth play an important role in crop growth, development and ultimately yield in intercropping systems. However, the impact of different water and nitrogen levels on intercropping production, interspecific interactions between intercrops, and the recovery growth of late-maturing crops is still unclear. A two-year field experiment was conducted in Yangling, Shaanxi province, to investigate the dynamics of interspecific interactions, and the effects of interspecific interactions on crop growth and yield. The experiment consisted of three factors, including three cropping systems (wheat/maize intercropping, sole wheat, sole maize), three nitrogen (N) levels and two water applications (supplementary irrigation and rainfed). The results demonstrated that, during the co-growth period, intercropped wheat was more competitive than intercropped maize; so, intercropped wheat showed a yield advantage. Intercropping increased maize yield under irrigated conditions, and this was attributed to the full recovery growth of intercropped maize after wheat harvest. However, rainfed and nil nitrogen aggravated the interspecific competition, and water deficit under maize rows, in turn, limited the recovery growth of intercropped maize, leading to yield reduction. However, compared with sole maize, the yield of intercropped maize decreased, indicating nitrogen deficiency limited the recovery growth of intercropped maize. Among all treatments, the intercropping of medium nitrogen fertilizer with irrigation had the best yield improvement and land use advantages, the total yield of intercropping was 14.8% higher than that of sole cropping, and the land use efficiency increased 16%. These results confirmed that supplementary irrigation and optimal nitrogen application alleviated the interspecific competition, promoted the recovery growth of intercropped maize and improved the yield of wheat/maize intercropping system.

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

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.