Competitive ability of different summer sesamum based intercropping systems

A field experiment was carried out at College Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat) to study competitive ability of various sesamum based intercropping systems during summer season of 2016. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with four replications and nine treatments. Sesamum was intercropped with green gram and cowpea at 2: 1 and 3: 2 row ratios. Considering the all treatments, sole green gram gave maximum net return (56441 Rs./ha) followed by sesamum + green gram (3: 2). Introducing of green gram into sesamum was found more beneficial over sole sesamum (Normal sowing as well as paired). Among the intercropping treatments, sesamum + green gram (3: 2) gave highest sesamum equivalent yield (944 kg/ha), product of relative crowding coefficient (2.28), aggressivity (+ 0.25), competition ratio (1.25: 0.80) and net return (48118), therefore, emerged out a best intercropping system.