Effect of Intercropping Cereal, Pulse and Oilseed Crops in Redgram on Yield, Competition and Advantage

Results of a field experiment conducted in rainy season (June to December) of 1988 and 1989 at Deochanda Experiment Station, Bihar, India, indicated that intercropping cereals, pulses and oilseeds with normal planted base crop of redgram ( Cajanus cajan [L.] Mill sp.) increased land use efficiency and gave higher total yields compared to pure cropping of redgram under rainfed conditions on upland oxisols of Bihar plateau. Cereals like maize, rice and fingermillet were more aggressive in intercropping system and they tended to have depressing effect on redgram. Intercropping of short duration pulses like blackgram and greengram and legume-oilseed crops like peanut and soybean with redgram showed balanced competitive abilities and proved more efficient in the system. Intercropping system of redgram-peanut proved to be the most efficient and productive.