Optimisation of Fertility Levels and Row Arrangements for Enhancing Growth and Yield in Mustard+Chickpea Intercropping System
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season (November, 2025 to March, 2026 at the Crop Research Centre, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India to evaluate fertility levels and row arrangements on growth, yield and land-use efficiency of mustard-chickpea intercropping. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design with eleven treatments consisting of three fertility levels [F1: 50%, F2: 75% and F3: 100% Recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF)] and three row arrangements [R1: 3:1, R2: 3:2 and R3: 3:3 (mustard: chickpea)] and sole mustard and sole chickpea replicated thrice. The soil was sandy loam in texture with a slightly alkaline reaction. The results indicated that the fertility level F3 (100% RDF) significantly improved the growth and productivity of both crops. Maximum dry matter accumulation at harvest was recorded in mustard (46.01 g plant-1) and chickpea (38.86 g plant-¹) under F3. Similarly, the highest crop growth rate and relative growth rate were observed with 100% RDF. Among fertility levels, F3 produced the highest grain yield (1580 and 981 kg ha-¹), straw yield (3626 and 1750 kg ha-¹), harvest index (30.32 and 35.71%) of mustard and chickpea, respectively, and the highest land equivalent ratio (1.25). Among the row arrangements, R3 (3:3) recorded the highest growth attributes, chickpea grain yield (1197 kg ha-¹), straw yield (2131 kg ha-¹) and land equivalent ratio (1.20), while, R1 (3:1) recorded the highest mustard grain yield (1528 kg ha-¹) and straw yield (3683 kg ha-¹). The study concluded that the application of 100% RDF with a 3:3 row arrangement maximised yield, growth and land-use efficiency in mustard-chickpea intercropping.
Institution: ITM University
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7216539693