Competitive behaviour of different legumes grown as intercrop with direct seeded upland rice
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Date
2002
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Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani
Abstract
A field experiment entitled "Competitive bahaviour of different
legumes grown as intercrop with direct seeded upland rice" was
conducted at the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani
from June 2001 to October 2001. The study aims to find out an optimum
row proportion of upland rice to legume combination, to assess the soil
fertility improvement and to evolve an economically feasible legume
intercropping system in upland rice.
The experiment was laid out in randomised block design with ten
treatments in three replications. The weather condition during the
cropping period was congenial for crop growth. The treatments were
sole crops of upland nee, blackgram, greengram and cowpea,
intercropping of upland rice with blackgram, greengram and cowpea in
2 : 1 and 3 : 1 ratios.
The results of the study indicated that the legumes performed well
under intercropped condition than under sole crop situation by
dominating the cereal component rice.
The association of legumes excepting greengram had
complementary effect on rice and it was proved that blackgram or
cowpea can be grown in a compatible manner with rice.
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The sole crops produced significantly higher seed yield than the
intercropping systems, in which yield varied due to differences in
population. The sole crops recorded the maximum nutrient uptake over
the intercropping treatments.
The competitive behaviour of the components and the bio-
economic suitability of the intercropping systems were studied. Higher
LER, LEC, RCC and rice equivalent yield were obtained in rice +
cowpea in 2: 1 ratio. The highest competition ratio and the highest
aggressivity values were 0 btained in rice + greengram in 2: 1 ratio.
lA-I
The results on monetary returns were higher in intercropping
systems except greengram intercropping compared to sole crop of rice.
The highest gross returns, net returns and benefit cost ratio were realised
from the rice + cowpea intercropping system in 2: 1 ratio. Among the
sole crops, cowpea gave higher monetary returns and benefit - cost ratio.
The maximum net returns (Rs. 11080 ha ") was obtained when rice and
cowpea were grown in 2: 1 proportion. Greengram intercropping with
rice was not profitable.
In general, the soil nutrient status indicated a significant positive
buildup of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in all legume included
plots where legumes were incorporated into the soil after the final
harvest.
Thus, raising cowpea or blackgram as an intercrop in upland rice
appears to be more profitable. Under the circumstances, where an
intercrop is desired for yield stability, to reduce risk or to get yield
diversity, raising cowpea and rice in 1:2 proportion can be recommended
as an economically viable and biologically sustainable practice.
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