Growth and Yield Attributes of Mustard as Influenced by Mustard – Based Vegetable Intercropping Systems

The study was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Adilabad, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, from November, 2022 to March, 2023 to identify the best intercropping system in mustard intercropped with different root vegetable crops. The treatments include, T1: Mustard sole crop; T2: Radish sole crop; T3: Beetroot sole crop; T4: Carrot sole crop; T5: Potato sole crop; T6: Mustard + Radish (2:2); T7: Mustard + Beetroot (2:2); T8: Mustard + Carrot (2:2); T9: Mustard + Potato (2:2); T10: Mustard + Radish (3:3); T11: Mustard + Beetroot (3:3) ;T12: Mustard + Carrot (3:3); T13: Mustard + Potato (3:3). Results indicated that, mustard sole crop performed significantly better in terms of growth and yield parameters. However, among the intercropping systems, mustard + radish showed higher plant height (179 and 174 cm), significantly higher plant drymatter accumulation (2478, 2456 kg/ha), number of siliqua (1689 and 1675), grain yield (972 and 950 kg/ha) and stalk yield (2267 and 2242 kg/ha) in both 3:3 and 2:2 row proportions, respectively. Moreover, all the root vegetable crops, namely radish, beetroot, carrot and potato, showed better results in terms of growth and yield parameters as sole crops compared to when grown in intercropping systems. Considering the row proportions the performance was better in 3:3 than 2:2 but not statistically significant. The study concludes that, mustard +radish in both 3:3 and 2:2 row proportions can be a better intercropping system for Telangana.