Performance of canola oilseed rape (Brassica napus), Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata) and Indian rape (Brassica rapa) in the intercropping system

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Ludhiana, Punjab, during the winter (rabi) season of 201415, to study the production potential of Indian rape (Brassica rapa var. toria), oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and Ethiopian mus- tard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) in different row spacings and row proportions in the intercropping systems. The experiment comprised 14 treatments which were replicated thrice as per randomized complete-block design. Plant height at maturity and dry-matter accumulation (DMA) at 90 days after sowing by component crops decreased sig- nificantly in intercropping as compared to their sole crops and such reduction in plant height was more for the nar- row row spacing, and for DMA with increasing row spacing. Number of siliquae/plant and 1,000- seed weight of In- dian rape and Ethiopian mustard, and number of seeds/siliqua of Ethiopian mustard were not influenced by the in- tercropping. The highest seed yield given by Indian rape (1.16 t/ha) in Ethiopian mustard + Indian rape intercrop- ping system (1:2, 22.5 cm) was 80.5% of its sole crop yield. Seed yield of non-canola oilseed rape when inter- cropped with Indian rape (1:1, 22.5 cm) was 45.7% lower than its sole crop yield (1.85 t/ha). However, oilseed rape-equivalent yield produced by non-canola oilseed rape + Indian rape (1 : 1, 22.5 cm) was 22.9% higher than sole non canola oilseed rape. Similarly, sole crop of canola oilseed rape (1.63 t/ha) gave 91.0, 60.2 and 35.3% higher seed yield than its yield under intercropping with Indian rape in different row proportions and spacing. Oil- seed rape- equivalent yield in the canola oilseed rape + Indian rape sown in 1 : 1 and 2 : 1 row proportion at 22.5 cm row spacing was 16.9 and 20.1% higher than sole canola oilseed rape (1.63 t/ha). Similar to seed yields, sto- ver yields of component crops were significantly decreased in the intercropping system (ICS). Canola/ non-canola oilseed rape based intercropping system (ICS) resulted in higher net returns than sole crops, whereas Ethiopian mustard sown as sole crop was more remunerative than its intercropping with Indian rape.