Study of the Most Suitable Combination of Intercropping Systems of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) with Chickpea, Lentil, Linseed and Field Pea

Abstract: Intercropping system enhances crop productivity and profitability by growing different species together on the same piece of land in distinct row combinations. Hence, a field experiment was conducted to study the most suitable combination of mustard based intercropping with different crops at students’ instructional farm, C. S. Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur (U.P.) during Rabi season 2021-22. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with nine treatment combinations viz., T1 Sole Mustard, T2 Mustard: Chickpea (1:1), T3 Mustard: Chickpea (2:1), T4 Mustard: Lentil (1:1), T5 Mustard: Lentil (2:1), T6 Mustard: Linseed (1:1), T7 Mustard: Linseed (2:1), T8 Mustard: Field Pea (1:1) and T9 Mustard: Field Pea (2:1) with replicated thrice. The results revealed that the significant impact of intercropping system on the growth, yield attributes, and overall yield of mustard when intercropped with chickpea, lentil, linseed, and pea. Plant population of intercrops showed non-significant differences, but at later stages, a 1:1 ratio consistently led to higher plant populations. Plant height, primary branches, and dry weight were generally higher in the 1:1 ratio compared to the 2:1 ratio in all intercrops. Yield attributes, including the number of pods or capsules and seeds per pod or capsule, favoured the 1:1 ratio. The highest yield was observed in the 1:1 ratio, contrasting with the minimum in the 2:1 ratio of mustard + intercrops. Overall, the 1:1 ratio demonstrated superior performance in terms of growth, yield attributes and yield, emphasizing the importance of intercrop ratio in optimizing crop growth and productivity.

Performance of Integrated Nutrient Management and Foliar Spray of Micronutrients on Growth, Yield Attribute and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A field experiment was conducted during two rabi seasons of 2021-2022 and 2022-23 at Students’ Instructional Farm of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology Kanpur, (U.P.) The experiment was caried out in SPD (Split Plot Design) with fifteen treatment combination were replication thrice. fifteen treatment treatments combination consisted of three organic manure + RDF nutrient source (Control (100% RDF), 100 % RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5t/ha, and 100 % RDF + FYM @ 5t/ha) put under main plot and five foliar spray of micronutrient control (No spray),Foliar spray of ZnSO4 @ 0.25% at tillering and booting stages, Foliar spray of Nano Zinc @ 0.5% at tillering and booting stages, Foliar spray of FeSO4 @ 0.25% at tillering and booting stages and M5- Foliar spray of ZnSO4 @ 0.25% + FeSO4 @ 0.25% at tillering and booting stages) allotted under sub plot. The study on yield attribute and yield of wheat. The result showed that the maximum increase growth parameters, yield attribute and yield of wheat viz plant height (cm), number of tillers/m2, and leaf area index and number of grain/spike, number spike/m2, total grain weight spike (g) and test weight (1000 grain weight) (g) and grain yield (t/ha) and straw yield (t/ha) recorded significantly higher with F2- 100 % RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5t/ha treatments. Among the sub plot, M5- foliar spray of ZnSO4 @ 0.25% + FeSO4 @ 0.25% at tillering and booting stages produced significantly maximum highest grain yield (5.95 t/ha) and straw yield (7.94 t/ha)