Flowering behaviour and reproductive growth of polyethylene film-mulched groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) intercropped with cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) under irrigated situation

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during the winter season of 1999-2000 and rainy season of 2000, to study the flowering behaviour and reproductive growth of polyethylene film-mulched groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in sole as well as intercropping with cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The effect of polyethylene film mulch (PFM) on days to first flowering, days to produce 50% of total flowers in a single plant, total number of flowers produced, pod set- ting ratio and total number of matured podstplant was significant. As a result, the pod yield was also highest with the same treatment (26.17 q/ha and 26.46 q/ha respectively during winters of 1999-2000 and rainy 2000). The ef- fect of intercrop treatments was significant on majority of the phenological and yield characters and pod yield of groundnut. The interaction effect was non-significant during both the seasons for all the parameters studied.