Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)- based intercropping system under different sowing environments

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 1993-94 and 1994-95 to study the performance of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) - based intercropping system under different sowing environments. The pre-monsoon cotton recorded significantly higher seed-cotton yield of 677 and 628 kglha during 1993-94 and 1994-95 respectively. An intercropping of blackgram (Phaseolus mungo L.) or clusterbean [Cymopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taubert] reduced the seed-cotton yield and the mean reduction was 10.5 and 12.1% respectively compared with sole cotton. The statistical model with competition co-efticients and correlated error structures used for analysis of the date from intercropping systems revealed that clusterbean combination had a greater suppression effect on seed-cotton yield (r = 0.3918). However, clusterbean, as an intercrop component, could produce the maximum component yield in association.