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Crop Productivity in Soil as Affected by Intercropping with Wheat

S. Khatun
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Department of Agricultural Extension, Dhaka Region, Dhaka, Bangladesh

A.K. Azad
Assistant Professor
Agriculture, Mrigi Shaheed Dianot College, Kalukhali, Rajbari, Bangladesh

P. Bala
Lecturer
Agriculture, Lalmia City College, Gopalganj, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A field experiment was conducted during November 2009 to April 2010 on intercropping of soybean, potato and lentil 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 (1.736 t ha^-1) in wheat + lentil and the lowest grain yield (1.463 t ha^-1) was found in wheat + soybean 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 except potato and lentil.

Keywords: Crop productivity, Wheat, Intercropping

Location: Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-11-2009

End Date: 00-04-2010

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Wheat

Objectives:

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), potato (Solanum tuberosum var. Cardinal), Lentil (Lens culinaris var. BARI Mashur 4), and soybean (Glycine max var. PB-1). Among them wheat was grown as the principal crop and other as component or secondary crops. Seeds of wheat and lentil were collected from the Regional Research Station, BARI, Barisal. Potato tubers were collected from BADC, Jamalpur and soybean seeds from the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, BAU, Mymensingh. Four treatments were used in this experiment such as wheat -soybean, wheat-potato, wheat-lentil and 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 × 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 ploughing 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 sole intercropped wheat was fertilized as per recommendation. The fertilizer doses (kg/ha) were as follows:

Crop	Cowdung	Urea	TSP	MP	Gypsum	Zinc Oxide
Wheat	-	200	180	50	120	-
Potato	10,000	276	185	322	-	-
Lentil	-	45	85	35	-	5
Soybean	-	60	175	120	100	-

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. In case of sole soybean, and lentil fertilizers were applied during final land preparation, on the other hand, half of urea and full doses of other fertilizers and manure were applied at the same time (final land preparation) in sole potato and the rest of urea was top dressed at 50 DAS. The seed rates of all the crops were equal for both sole and intercropping which were as follows: Wheat @ 120 kg ha^-1, Lentil @ 30 kg ha^-1, Potato @ 1.5 ton ha^-1 and Soybean @ 80 kg ha^-1. Seeds of all crops were sown on 15 November 2009 by hand. In intercropping treatments the seeds of companion crops except potato were sown in between the rows of wheat. However, potato was planted after every two rows of wheat. The row to row distances for wheat, lentil and soybean were 30 cm in intercropping. The line to line distance of wheat was 25 cm and potato was 60 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. Potato and soybean were attacked by blight disease, soybean hairy caterpillar, aphid and pod borer insect, respectively. Dithane M-45, Dimecron-100EC, Diazinon 60 EC and ripcord 50 EC were applied at proper rates to control them. Potato was harvested on 18 February 2010 after full maturity. Soybean and lentil were harvested on 4 March 2010, wheat on 26 march. After harvest, all crops except potato 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 such as no. of effective tillers plant^-1, grain plant^-1, grain weight plant^-1, straw weight plant^-1, grain yield (t ha^-1), straw yield (t ha^-1), biological yield (t ha^-1) and harvest index (%) were collected. 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. Harvest index was calculated. 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: J. Soil Nature 6(1):22-25, (2012)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It may, therefore be concluded that sole wheat was significantly higher than that of all of the intercropping patterns and intercropping of lentil with wheat crop may produce good yield, higher Land equivalent ratio (LER) and higher monetary advantage.

Knowledge Management: Journal