Linseed Based Intercropping Systems As Influenced By Integrated Nutrient Management Under Rainfed Condition

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at Soil Conservation and Water Management Farm of C S Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur during rabi seasons of 2015-16 and 2016-17, to assess the effect Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) based intercropping systems as influenced by integrated nutrient management under rainfed condition . The experiment consisted of nine cropping systems viz. C1: Linseed sole, C2: Lentil sole, C3: Barley sole, C4: Linseed + lentil (3:1), C5: Linseed + barley (3:1), C6: Linseed + lentil (4:1), C7: Linseed + barley (4:1), C8: Linseed + lentil (5:1) and C9: Linseed + barley (5:1), and three integrated nutrient management options viz. N1: RDN, N2: 75% RDN through inorganic + 25% RDN through vermicompost N3: 75% RDN through inorganic + 25% RDN through vermicompost + bio-fertilizer (seed coating) + PSB at 2.5 kg ha-1 in soil. The experiment was conducted in Split Plot Design replicated three times, keeping cropping systems in main plots and INM in sub plots. The result clearly revealed that the plant stand, plant height, days to flowering and maturity, number of capsule plant-1, number of seed capsule-1, number of pods plant-1, number of seed pod-1, number of ear plant-1, number of grain ear-1 and 1000 seed weight was recorded maximum under individual sole crop of linseed, lentil and barley. However, amongst the cropping system the maximum seed and stover yield was obtained in linseed + lentil (3:1) during the two different years. The highest linseed equivalent yield of 13.33 and 12.11 q ha-1 was found in the treatment of linseed + lentil (3:1). The maximum LER of 1.32 and 1.33 was observed under linseed + lentil (3:1) during 2015-16 and 2016-17, respectively. The application of INM further showed significance and use of N3: 75% RDN through inorganic + 25% RDN through vermicompost + bio-fertilizer (seed coating) + PSB at 2.5 kg ha-1 in soil exhibited significantly higher values during the years of study.