Optimisation of Fertility Levels and Row Arrangements for Enhancing Growth and Yield in Mustard+Chickpea Intercropping System

Authors

  • Sanket Jaideo Wankhade Dept. of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 001), India
  • Shravan Kumar Maurya Dept. of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 001), India
  • Pradeep Rajput Dept. of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 001), India
  • Vipin Kumar Dept. of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 001), India
  • Nivedita Singh Dept. of Agricultural Engineering, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 001), India
  • Aakash Malik Dept. of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 001), India
  • Sravani Budiga Dept. of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 001), India
  • Tushar Chavan Dept. of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 001), India
  • K. E. Abin Anilkumar Dept. of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 001), India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23910/2/2026.7240a

Keywords:

CGR, chickpea, intercropping, LER, mustard and RGR

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season (November, 2025 to March, 2026 at the Crop Research Centre, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India to evaluate fertility levels and row arrangements on growth, yield and land-use efficiency of mustard-chickpea intercropping. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design with eleven treatments consisting of three fertility levels [F1: 50%, F2: 75% and F3: 100% Recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF)] and three row arrangements [R1: 3:1, R2: 3:2 and R3: 3:3 (mustard: chickpea)] and sole mustard and sole chickpea replicated thrice. The soil was sandy loam in texture with a slightly alkaline reaction. The results indicated that the fertility level F3 (100% RDF) significantly improved the growth and productivity of both crops. Maximum dry matter accumulation at harvest was recorded in mustard (46.01 g plant-1) and chickpea (38.86 g plant-¹) under F3. Similarly, the highest crop growth rate and relative growth rate were observed with 100% RDF. Among fertility levels, F3 produced the highest grain yield (1580 and 981 kg ha-¹), straw yield (3626 and 1750 kg ha-¹), harvest index (30.32 and 35.71%) of mustard and chickpea, respectively, and the highest land equivalent ratio (1.25). Among the row arrangements, R3 (3:3) recorded the highest growth attributes, chickpea grain yield (1197 kg ha-¹), straw yield (2131 kg ha-¹) and land equivalent ratio (1.20), while, R1 (3:1) recorded the highest mustard grain yield (1528 kg ha-¹) and straw yield (3683 kg ha-¹). The study concluded that the application of 100% RDF with a 3:3 row arrangement maximised yield, growth and land-use efficiency in mustard-chickpea intercropping.

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Published

30-09-2026

How to Cite

Wankhade, S. J., Maurya, S. K., Rajput, P., Kumar, V., Singh, N., Malik, A., … Abin Anilkumar, K. E. (2026). Optimisation of Fertility Levels and Row Arrangements for Enhancing Growth and Yield in Mustard+Chickpea Intercropping System. International Journal of Economic Plants, 13(Sep, 5), 01–07. https://doi.org/10.23910/2/2026.7240a

Issue

Vol. 13 No. Sep, 5 (2026)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 PP House

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