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Intercropping with Wheat Affected Crop Productivity

Shahana Khatun
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Department of Agricultural Extension, Dhaka Region, Dhaka

Pronay Bala
Agriculture, Lalmia City College, Gopalgonj, Bangladesh

Abul Kalam Azad
Agriculture, Mrigi Shaheed Dianot College, Kalukhali, Rajbari

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A field experiment was conducted during November 2009 to April 2010 on intercropping of cowpea, linseed and coriander with wheat crop at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to evaluate the crop productivity of different intercrop combinations compared to their respective sole cropping. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three intercrops and four sole crops treatment combinations assigned in three replications. Crop characteristics and yield of wheat reduced in intercropping treatments as compared to sole cropping of wheat. Among the intercropping treatments, the highest grain yield was found (1.596 t ha^-1) in wheat + cowpea and the lowest grain yield (1.210 t ha^-1) was found in wheat +linseed intercropping treatments. The seed yield of component crops reduced in intercropping treatments as compared to their sole crops. All the intercropping treatments gave higher wheat equivalent yield than their respective sole crops.

Keywords: Intercropping, Wheat, Crop Productivity

Location: Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-11-2009

End Date: 00-04-2010

Program Area: Farming System

Commodity: Wheat

Objectives:

1. The present study on intercropping of wheat and other three crops was undertaken to investigate the yield performance of wheat in intercropping pattern compared to its sole crop and observe the yield performance of the selected component crops as sole and intercrops with wheat.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from November 2009 to April 2010.Four types of crops having dissimilar growth habits were used in the experiment. The crops were wheat (Tricticum aestivum var. Kanchan), mustard (Brassica juncea var. Daulat), Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata var. BARI Phelon-1), Linseed (Linum usitatissimum var. Nila) and Coriander (Coriandrum sativum var. BARI Dhania-1). Among them wheat was grown as the principal crop and other as component or secondary crops. Seeds of wheat, mustard, cowpea and linseed were collected from the Regional Research Station, BARI, Barisal. Seeds of coriander were collected from the Agronomy Division of the Central Research Station, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur. Four treatments included in the experiments were as follows; I. Wheat + mustard, II. Wheat + cowpea, III. Wheat + linseed, IV. Wheat + coriander, and V. Wheat sole. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were randomly assigned within each block. The size of unit plot was 4.0m x 2.5m and each plot was separated by 0.5m wide bund. The blocks were separated by 1.0m. There were 21 plots in the experiment. The land was first opened with two cross plugging given by country plough. Weeds and stubble were removed from the field and visible larger clods were broken into small pieces by using wooden hammer. The layout of the experiment in the field was done according to the experimental design adopted. The seed rates of all the crops were equal for both sole and intercropping which were as follows: Wheat @ 120 kg ha^-1, Linseed @ 8 kg ha^-1, Cowpea@ 50 Kg ha^-1, Mustard @ 9Kg^-1 and Coriander @ 8 kg ha^-1. Seeds of all crops were sown on 15 November 2009 by hand. In intercropping treatments the seeds of companion crops were sown in between the rows of wheat. The row to row distances for wheat, linseed, cowpea, mustard and Coriander were 30 cm in intercropping and the line to line distance of wheat was 25 cm. Thinning and weeding were done on 4 and 30 December 2009. Urea fertilizer was applied as top dressing on the dates previously mentioned. The experimental plots were irrigated properly. One third of total urea and full doses of TSP, MP and gypsum were applied during final land preparation in sole and intercropped wheat treatments. The rest two-thirds of urea were top dressed in two equal splits given at 21 days after sowing (DAS) and 55 DAS. Mustard were harvested on 4 March 2010, wheat on 26 March and Cowpea on 25 April 2010. After harvest, all crops were sun dried for a few days and then threshed. Seeds were cleaned and sun dried and weighed plot wise to record the seed yield. Before harvesting five plants of each crop were selected randomly from each unit plot carefully. The data on yield and crop characters of all crops were collected as follows: Wheat - I. Number of effective tillers plant^-1, II. Grain plant^-1, III. Grain weight plant^-1, IV. Straw weight plant^-1, V. Grain yield(t ha^-1), VI. Straw yield (t ha^-1), VII. Biological yield (t ha^-1), and VIII. Harvest index (%). Grain yield and straw yield are combined regarded as biological yield. The biological yield was calculated using the following formula: Biological yield = Grain/ seed yield/tuber yield + straw/haulm yield. Harvest index is the per cent expression of seed and biological yield. Data of different yield contributing characters were compiled and appropriate statistical analysis was made following the ANOVA technique. The mean differences among the treatments were adjudged by the Duncan’s New multiple range tests.

Source of Information: BANGLADESH RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS JOURNAL; ISSN: 1998-2003, Volume: 6, Issue: 4, Page: 414-419, March - April, 2012

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Crop characteristics and yield of wheat reduced in intercropping treatments as compared to sole cropping of wheat. Among the intercropping treatments, the highest grain yield was found (1.596 t ha^-1) in wheat + cowpea and the lowest grain yield (1.210 t ha^-1) was found in wheat +linseed intercropping treatments. The seed yield of component crops reduced in intercropping treatments as compared to their sole crops. All the intercropping treatments gave higher wheat equivalent yield than their respective sole crops.

Knowledge Management: Journal