Rice (Oryza Sativa) and Chickpea (Cicer Aritinum L) Relay Intercropping Systems in an Additive Series Experiment in Rain Fed Lowland Ecosystem of Fogera Vertisols

Abstract

Study on rice as a main crop-chickpea as a companion crop relay intercropping in an additive series experiment in rain fed lowland ecosystem of Fogera vertisols was conducted for two consecutive years to test the rice-chick pea relay intercropping planting method and to determine the optimum proportion for component crops in rice- chick pea relay intercropping on transplanted rice. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with three replications. Five seed rates of chick pea relayed intercropped in between rows of transplanted rice and one sole rice were tested i.e. full recommended seed rate of chick pea relay intercropped in between rows of transplanted rice, two-third of the recommended seed rate of chick pea relay intercropped in between rows of transplanted rice, two-third of the recommended seed rate of chick pea relay intercropped in between alternate rows of transplanted rice, half of the recommended seed rate of chick pea relay intercropped in between rows of transplanted rice, half of the recommended seed rate of chick pea relay intercropped in between alternate rows of transplanted rice and the sole transplanted rice used as comparison. Rice yield and yield component data were statistically subjected to analysis of variance using SAS-JMP-5 software. All growth, yield and yield component of rice did not significantly affected by additive relay intercropping and seed proportion in rice-chickpea relay intercropping systems. However, the study conducted for two consecutive years at all test sits confirmed that chick pea after twenty days from the planting time was completely dried and unable to gave seed yield from rice-chickpea relay intercropping experiment. Hence, under current crop management practice of rice at Fogera vertisol areas, relay intercropping of chickpea with rice is not economically important for farmers.

Keywords: Rice; chickpea; relay intercropping systems; vertisols