Relative yield, competition, land use and economic performance of chickpea-based intercropping systems

Background: Chickpea is the third-most important food legume in the world. Chickpea is less remunerative than raya, linseed and fenugreek. Hence there is a gradual shift in cropping patterns from sole chickpea to its intercropping with raya, linseed and fenugreek. Intercropping offers potential advantages over sole cropping. Since information on the relative yield, competition, land use and economics of chickpea intercropping with raya, linseed and fenugreek is lacking, hence the present experiment was undertaken. Methods: A field experiment was performed at CCSHAU, Hisar, during two consecutive winter seasons, i.e., 2020-21 and 2021-22, following a randomized block design comprising nineteen treatments, replicating thrice. The study was aimed to evaluate the chickpea-based intercropping in row replacement system with fenugreek, linseed and raya as an intercrop with row ratio of 4:4, 5:3, 6:2, 3:5 and 2:6 for chickpea + intercrop along with their sole crop. Result: Chickpea + fenugreek (6:2) intercropping was found utmost efficient and suitable, having significantly higher LER (1.20), CEY (2396 kg/ha), LUE (119.3), ATER (1.18), A (0.53), RCC (4.18), MAI (18838), SPI (2208), IAI (34.6), net return (Rs. 96,170/ha) and benefit cost ratio (3.79).