PERFORMANCE OF RADISH AND OKRA UNDER DIFFERENT NITROGEN LEVELS IN BER-BASED INTER CROPPING SYSTEM ON ALFISOLS
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Date
1997
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Professor Jayashankar Telanagana State Agricultural University
Abstract
n ber—based intercropping system with radish and okra, the effect
of tree row direction (East-west and North-South), levels of nitrogen
fertilization (40, 80 and 120 kg N ha.1 for radish and 45, 90 and 135 kg
N ha"1 for okra) besides allelopathic effects of root and leaf leachates of
ber (5 and 10 %) on germination of radish and okra in addition to the
effect of root bits (45 and 90 g), leaf litter (30 and 60 g) and their
combinations along with tree shade on the performance of radish under pot
culture were studied in seven year old ber plantation from October, 1996
to January, 1997 at Student’s Farm, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar,
Hyderabad.
Both the intercrops had no significant effect on tree height and
canopy area of associated ber trees, but affected fruit yield, average fruit
weight and ascorbic acid content. In subsequent annual pruning, the treatments
with higher levels of nitrogen to intercrops resulted in significantly higher
dry weight of prunings.
Radish as an intercrop with ber fared well in rabi. The proximity
of intercrop strip to ber, resulted in higher plant height, shoot yield and
total chlorophyll content, but a drastic reduction was observed in all other
parameters viz., number of leaves per plant, root length and girth, total
soluble solids, root yield and dry matter, nitrogen content and uptake. The
reduction in root yield was to the extent of 31 and 12 per cent in intercrop
strip closer to her (D1) and the strip away from her (D2) respectively
compared to sole crop. Increasing levels of nitrogen improved the growth
and yield of radish. An increase of 23 and 11 per cent in root yield with
N3 level was recorded over N1 and N2 levels respectively.
Okra as an intercrop in ber during rabi did not fare well and could
not express its full potential. However, under intercropping situation, growth,
yield and yield attributes were adversely affected compared to sole cropping.
The pod yield was drastically reduced to the tune of 53 and 25 per cent
in intercrop strip D1 and D2 respectively compared to sole crop. Increasing
levels of nitrogen resulted in a progressive increase in all the growth
parameters and finally the yield which was 46 and 26 per cent more with
N3 level compared to N1 and N2 levels respectively.
Intercropping under North-South tree row direction of her adversely
affected the growth and yield of both radish and okra compared to East—West
tree row direction. There was a drastic reduction in per cent PAR availability
on the top of both the intercrops under East-West tree row direction to the
extent of 53 and 8 per cent in intercrop strip D1 and D2, respectively
compared to sole crop. Significant reduction in leaf temperature and more
build up of humidity under intercropping resulted in higher stomatal diffiisive
resistance and low rate of transpiration.
Allelopathic studies revealed no inhibitory effect of her root leachates
at 5 per cent on germination of radish and okra, but enhanced the subsequent
growth of plumule and radicle. Root leachates at 10 per cent and leaf
leachates at 5 and 10 per cent suppressed germination, inhibited growth of
radicle and plumule of both the crops. Though there was no inhibitory
effect of root bits at 45 and 90 g per container, root bits in combination
with leaf litter at higher levels adversely affected the growth and yield of
radish. Radish under tree shade recorded higher plant height, shoot yield
and chlorophyll content but significantly lower root length, girth, yield and
total soluble solids compared to open situation.
Maximum mean gross and net monetary returns were realized from
intercropping of radish and okra with ber compared to sole cropping. The
values of benefitcost ratio (B:C ratio) and income equivalent ratio (IER)
from ber based intercropping system were more than unity showing the
profitability of the system. Maximum IER value of 1.72 was realised by
intercropping of radish at 120 kg N ha'1 with her, which seems to be the
best treatment
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D5215