Intercropping of Pulses and Oilseeds with Sisal (Agave sisalana) in North Coastal Zone of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif, Rabi, 2020 and 2021 under AINP on Jute and Allied Fibres at Agricultural Research Station farm, Amadalavalasa – ANGRAU, Andhra Pradesh. The experiment was conducted to study the suitability and economic feasibility of short duration pulses and oilseeds as intercrops in between paired row spaces of sisal plantation. Results revealed that, short duration pulses are more feasible than oilseeds as intercrops with increased productivity per unit area. Sisal fibre yield and intercrops yield was higher with pulse intercropping than oilseeds. Sisal fibre equivalent yield of intercrops varied between 1.87 q ha-1 in case of sisal + mustard to 5.28 q ha-1 in sisal + cowpea. The net returns per rupee invested was highest in sisal + cowpea (3.42) followed by sisal + greengram (3.34), sisal + rajma (3.05) and lowest among pulses was sisal + blackgram (2.83). While, among oilseeds, highest was in sisal + niger (2.90) followed by sisal + mustard (2.80) and sisal + sesame (2.65) compared to lowest in sole sisal (2.49). However, the total system productivity in terms of sisal fibre equivalent yield of cropping system varied between 14.05 q ha-1 in case of sole sisal to 21.64 q ha-1 in sisal + cowpea. The results inferred that, growing of short duration pulses in between paired row spaces of sisal could be efficiently used by growing short duration pulses like cowpea, greengram, rajma and blackgram for increased cropping system under sisal plantation.