Intercropping in castor (Ricinus communis) in drylands

摘要

A field experiment was conducted to assess the productivity of castor in various plant geometries and to see the feasibility of growing various intercrops in castor under dryland conditions of.Fourteen treatments,consisting of sole crop of castor at 75 cm and 90 cm and in paired rows at 60:90 cm and 60:120 cm,intercropping of 1 row of green gram,moth bean,cluster bean,cowpea and pearl millet in the paired castor row system of 60:90 cm and intercropping of 2 rows of green gram,moth bean,cluster bean,cowpea and pearl millet in paired castor row system of 60:120 cm,were tested in randomized block design with 3 replications.Intercropping of 2 rows of green gram in 60:120 cm paired castor row system gave significantly higher castor equivalent yield(1.35 tonnes/ha),net returns(Rs 9674/ha),benefit: cost ratio(1.63),monetary advantage index(2345)and income equivalent ratio(1.71).Also,intercropping of 1 row of green gram in 60:90 cm castor paired row system was found to be more productive and remunerative than moth bean,cluster bean,cowpea and pearl millet intercropping systems.Intercropping of green gram in paired row planting system of castor either in 1 or 2 rows was found superior than other intercrops in terms of biological parameters like land equivalent ratio,area time equivalent ratio and relative crowding co-efficient.