Vol. 11, Issue 5 (2022)

Author(s):
RS Singh, Manoj Kumar, CS Chaudhary, Amalendu Kumar and IB Pandey

Abstract:
An experiment was conducted during rabi seasons of 2015-16 to 2016-17 to study the effect of intercropping system of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) with Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) on growth, yield, yield attributes and monetary return of faba bean at the research farm of Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi under Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar. There were ten treatments, viz. [T₁-(Sole mustard), T₂ -(Sole faba bean), T₃- (Mustard+Faba bean in 1:1), T₄- (Mustard+Faba bean in 1:2), T₅- (Mustard+Faba bean in 1:3), T₆- (Mustard+Faba bean in 1:4), T₇- (Mustard+Faba bean in 1:5), T₈- (Mustard+Faba bean in 2:4), T₉- (Mustard+Faba bean in 2:5) and T₁₀- (Mustard+Faba bean in 2:6)] under replacement series in different row combinations. Intercropping system in different row combinations resulted in significant effect on growth, yield, yield attributes and monetary return with the highest number of branches per plant (5.0), number of pods per plant (30.9), number of grains per pod (2.21), grain yield per plant (33.67 g), 100-grain weight (28.94 g) of faba bean, faba bean equivalent yield (3802 kg /ha) and net return (Rs.92470/ha) of intercropping system recorded under T₉ (faba bean intercropped with Indian mustard in 2: 5 row ratio) which was significantly superior to sole faba bean, sole mustard, intercropping systems of faba bean with mustard in 1: 1, 1: 2 and 1: 3 row ratios with respect to faba bean equivalent yield and monetary returns. Significantly lowest value of branches per plant (3.8), number of pods per plant (22.4), number of grains per pod (2.16), grain yield per plant (23.49 g), 100-grain weight (27.89 g) of faba bean, faba bean equivalent yield (3257 kg/ha) and lowest net return (Rs.76419/ha) was associated with 1: 1 row ratio of mustard with faba bean. Intercropping systems of mustard + faba bean in 2:4, 2:5 or 2:6 row combinations with paired rows of mustard established better performance than intercropping system of Mustard + faba bean in 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 or 1:4 row ratios.