Intercropping System in Double Rowed Sisal (Agave sisalana) Plantation

A field experiment was conducted during 2012–13 at the experimental farm (22.0411 N, 84.2951 E, 267 m AMSL) of Sisal Research Station (of CRIJAF), Bamra, Sambalpur, Odisha to study the suitability of legume intercrops in the double rowed sisal (Agave sisalana) plantation. Short duration varieties of legume intercrops such as cowpea (cv. VRCP-4), green gram (cv. Pant Mung 5), black gram (cv. Pant Urd 31), moth bean (cv. RMO 40) and pigeon pea (cv. ICPL 87) were grown during the kharif seaon within the sisal plantation. The growth and fibre yield of sisal was significantly influenced due to legume intercrops and the highest leaf length (92.4 cm) and fibre yield (303 kg/ha) was obtained in pigeon pea intercropping system. Growth of all the legume intercrops were satisfactory, but due to excess of soil moisture due to intermittent rain, proper flowering and pod formation was not occurred in moth bean variety. The satisfactory yield of pigeon pea, cowpea (as vegetable), green gram and black gram were added to the sisal equivalent yield of the intercropping system. The sisal equivalent yield from the system was the highest in case of pigeon pea (723 kg/ha) followed by cowpea and black gram. It was inferred that the vacant space in between the double rowed sisal plantation for the initial three years period could be utilized for growing short duration varieties of annual legume intercrops like pigeon pea, cowpea, black gram etc. during the kharif season.