Production potential and economic viability of bed planted wheat (Triticum aestivum) as influenced by different intercropping systems and levels of nutrients applied to intercrops

A field experiment was conducted at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2012–13 and 2013–14 in a split-plot design with 3 replications. The main plots treatments involved 5 intercropping systems, viz. wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) + spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), wheat + fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graccum L.), wheat + fodder oats (Avena sativa L.), wheat + canola (Brassica napus L.) and wheat + linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.). Each main plot was divided into 4 subplots to allocate the different levels of recommended dose of nutrients, i.e. 0, 50, 75 and 100% of recommended dose of nutrients to intercrops. Higher biological, straw and grain yields of wheat were observed in wheat + spinach (12.17, 6.77, 5.40 t/ha) intercropping system which was statistically at par with wheat + fenugreek (12.01, 6.72, 5.29 t/ha) and wheat + fodder oats (11.74, 6.61, 5.12 t/ha), but significantly higher than wheat + linseed (11.37, 6.29, 5.07 t/ha) and wheat + canola (10.39, 5.64, 4.75 t/ha) intercropping system. Significantly lowest values biological, straw and grain yield were observed in wheat + canola intercropping system than the rest of the intercropping systems. Wheat + fodder oats intercropping system exhibited significantly higher wheat-equivalent yield, system productivity and the economic returns followed by the wheat + spinach intercropping system compared with the other intercropping systems. With the increased dose of nutrients from 0 to 100% applied to intercrops on area basis, there was progressive increase in yield of intercrops. The application of 100% recommended dose of nutrients to the intercrops resulted in significantly higher value of wheat-equivalent yield, system productivity and economic returns than the other recommended dose of nutrients applied to the intercrops.