Planting pattern in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) crop mixture under irrigated condi- tions in mid-hills of North-Western Himalayas

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the winter season of 1990-91 to 1992- 93 to study the effect of planting pattern of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) and lndian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson] under 2 wheat row spacings (22.5 and 15 cm) and as seed mixture under broadcast sowing. Wheat + lndian mustard intercropped in an 8 : 1 row combination under both wheat row spacings and mixed cropping of wheat and lndian mustard under broadcast sowing system did not show significant difference in wheat yield compared to yield of respec- tive sole crop of wheat. All the inter- and mixed cropping treatments showed higher wheat-equivalent yields, land-equivalent ratio (LER) and benefit :cost ratio over sole crops, and the highest values of these parameters were obtained under planting pattern of wheat and lndian mustard in row ratio of 8 : 1 in both wheat row spacings, but 22.5 cm wheat row spacing proved more remunerative.