Effect of Maize and Chickpea Intercropping under the Different Row Ratios on Air Temperature and Vapoure Pressure Profile in Crop Canopy

Abstract

An experiment was laid out to study the effect of maize and chickpea intercropping under the different row ratios on air temperature and vapoure pressure profile in crop canopy at Agronomy farm, Bansilal Amritlal College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat), India during the rabi season of the year 2021-2022. The soil of the experimental field was loamy sand. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with six treatments replicated four times. The treatments details are T1: Sole maize, T2: Sole chickpea, T3: Maize paired row, T4: Maize + chickpea (1: 1), T5: Maize + chickpea (1 : 2), T6: Maize + chickpea (2 : 2). During the early crop growth inversion profile of air temperature was observed because crops canopy was short. Air temperature was lowest at ground level, with increase in height air temperature increase. At upper canopy air temperature is lower than lower canopy because active transpiration by the dense foliage at upper canopy lower down the air temperature. During the early crop growth lapse profile of vapour pressure was observed. Highest value of vapour pressure was observed at the ground, but with an increase in height vapour pressure decreased. In the case of within crop canopy, strong gradient of vapour pressure was observed in upper crop canopy and weak gradient at lower crop canopy.