Impact of row ratios and nutrient management practices on yield, economics and nutrient uptake of mustard + chickpea intercropping system

A field experiment was undertaken in split plot design at ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute farm, New Delhi during the rabi seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23 determine the impact of different row ratios and nutrient management practices on yield, nutrient uptake and economics of mustard + chickpea intercropping system. Sixteen treatment combinations were taken with four different row ratios as main plots and four nutrient management practices as sub-plots replicated thrice. Though crop yields for individual crops of mustard and chickpea were found to be the highest for sole crop, but yield of intercropping system in terms of mustard equivalent yield was found to be the highest for mustard + chickpea 5:2 row ratio (2.98 t/ha in 2021 and 3.06 t/ha in 2022). Yields of both mustard and chickpea were observed to be the highest in the plots treated with combination of organic manures and microbial consortia i.e., 20 kg nitrogen through farmyard manure + leaf manure @ 4t/ha + microbial consortia (1.38 t/ha for mustard and 1.60 t/ha for chickpea). Highest gross returns (`84,560), net returns (`54,040) and benefit-cost ratio (1.77) were found in mustard + chickpea 5:2 row ratio. Analysis of nutrient uptake revealed maximum nutrient uptake in mustard + chickpea 2:5 intercropping system which led to better vegetative growth and higher yields. The above research aptly highlighted the beneficial effects of intercropping mustard with chickpea in dryland areas which helped to generate higher income for the farmers along with maintenance of soil sustainability by application of organic manures in right proportions.