Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad 580 005, India
*Corresponding author's e-mail: chittapurbm@yahoo.com and address: University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur 584 102
Online published on 7 September, 2013.
Ricebean and Frenchbean being non-conventional crops in the peninsular region an experiment was conducted to evaluate the possibility of growing these legumes and their suitability for intercropping with predominant cereal, maize in 1:1 and 1:2 row proportions along with recommended check maize + soybean at Main Agricultural Research Station, Dharwad representing Northern transitional zone of Karnataka. Intercropping of maize + frenchbean grown in 1:2 row proportion produced higher maize equivalent yield (8068 kg ha−1) and assured more income (Rs. 29 054/- ha−1) while, ricebean was comparable to maize + soybean in productivity. Maize + soybean had significantly higher protein output (851 kg ha−1) than other systems. Intercropping of grain legumes also ensured better utilization of resources viz., land, soil moisture, nutrients and light.
Economics, Frenchbean, Intercropping, Resource use, Ricebean, Soybean, Yield
