Evaluation of cereal-legume intercropping systems through productivity and competition ability

A field experiment was carried out during kharif season of 2010 and 2011 at Sriniketan Research Farm, Visva-Bharati, West Bengal. Maize crop produced highest grain yield in sole cropping which was statistically at par with intercropping situations like maize + soybean (1:2) and maize + groundnut (2:4). The mean land equivalent ratio in two years ranged from 1.21 to 1.84, indicating biological sustainability of intercropping over sole cropping. The highest relative crowding coefficient, SPI and LER value was obtained in maize + groundnut (2:4) followed by maize + soybean (1:2), maize + groundnut (1:2) and maize + soybean (2:4) combinations, indicating that former system as a whole was more productive, giving more yield. The values of CR and MA were higher in maize-soybean intercropping than the maize-groundnut intercropping. Maize + groundnut and maize + soybean recorded area time equivalent ratio value more than one indicating better land utilization efficiency than their sole crops. Highest RVT value was obtained from maize + soybean (1:2) followed by maize + groundnut (1:2).