INTERCROPPING OF BUCKWHEAT AND LATHYRUS IN RICE FALLOW UNDER ORGANIC ECOSYSTEM
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Date
2020-09
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AAU, Jorhat
Abstract
An experiment entitled “Intercropping of buckwheat and lathyrus in rice fallow
under organic ecosystem” was conducted at instructional-cum-research farm, Assam
Agricultural University, Jorhat during the rabi season of 2017-18 with the objective to
evaluate efficient proportion of intercrops under organic management system in rice
fallow land and to monitor soil physico-chemical properties as influenced by different
intercrops. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design with 3 replications.
The experiment was consisted of nine different treatment combinations namely T1
[Sole buckwheat]; T2 [Sole lathyrus as grain ]; T3 [Sole lathyrus as fodder ];T4
[Buckwheat + Lathyrus as grain (1:1)]; T5 [Buckwheat + Lathyrus as fodder (1:1)]; T6
[Buckwheat + Lathyrus as grain (2:1)]; T7 [Buckwheat + Lathyrus as fodder (2:1)]; T8
[Buckwheat + Lathyrus as grain(2:2)] and T9 [Buckwheat + Lathyrus as fodder (2:2)].
The soil was sandy loam with high in organic C (0.77 %). The initial nutrient content of
the soil were, N (296.56 kg/ha), P2O5 (34.88 kg/ha) and K2O (148.32 kg/ha).
The present investigation revealed that the yield of buckwheat, lathyrus grain
and lathyrus fodder was highest in respective sole treatments and decreased with
increasing share of intercrops [1,088.71kg/ha (for buckwheat)], 465.34kg/ha (for
lathyrus grain), 6023.60 kg/ha (for lathyrus fodder)]. Among different intercropping
systems highest buckwheat equivalent yield was obtained in buckwheat + lathyrus as
grain at a ratio of 2:2. In terms of intercropping advantage measured by land equivalent
ratio (LER), three intercropping viz T8 [Buckwheat + Lathyrus as grain(2:2)]; T9
[Buckwheat + Lathyrus as fodder (2:2)] and T5 [Buckwheat + Lathyrus as fodder (1:1)]
showed superior performance over the sole croppings. However, intercropping of
buckwheat + lathyrus as grain in 2:2 ratio recorded highest LER values over the other
intercropping systems indicating intercrop advantage. Intercropping of buckwheat +
lathyrus as grain at 2:2 row proportion proved to be the best since it recorded highest K
value (3.32) indicating better complementary effect. Overall soil health as measured by
soil available N, P and K content and organic carbon after harvest of test crops was not
affected much due to sole and intercropping systems. Among different treatments, the
highest cost of cultivation (₹25,100.00) was recorded in sole buckwheat. Among the
intercroppings, the highest gross return (₹77,237.75.00), net return (₹55,024.75.00)
and B:C (2.48) were obtained in buckwheat + lathyrus as (G) in 2:2. This study showed
that among the sole cropping treatments, buckwheat was found to be the best crop under
rice fallow land organic ecosystem. As a whole intercropping of buckwheat with
lathyrus as grain in 2:2 ratio found to be the best in respect of buckwheat equivalent
yield, biological efficiency and economic point of view. Since the findings are based on
one year experimentation, further validation in farmers field will be helpful for
generating best technology under fallow land organic ecosystem.