Indian Journal of Ecology

A field experiment was conducted at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences Bundelkhand University Jhansi to study the effect of mustard-based intercropping systems using skip-row method under organic management during Rabi 2021 -2022. Nine treatments comprising of mustard, kabuli chickpea, field pea, fenugreek and desi chickpea as sole crops, mustard + kabuli chickpea, mustard + field pea, mustard + fenugreek and mustard + desi chickpea (1:2 ratio) in intercropping system skipping one row of mustard were evaluated. The mustard intercropping with other crops considerably affected the yield parameters compared to their comparable sole crops, but all intercropping methods provided greater equivalent yields and land equivalent ratio. The cost and return analysis showed that the highest net return (Rs. 110552 ha^-1) and benefit-cost ratio (3.8) was obtained when mustard intercropped with desi chickpea compared to sole crop of mustard while it was minimum (2.7) in mustard alone. Significantly highest profitability (Rs 888 ha^-1 day^-1) was observed when mustard intercropped with desi chickpea compared to sole crop of mustard but it was statistically at par with rest of the treatments.