Response of Row Ratio in Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) + Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Intercropping on Growth, Yield of Crops, System Productivity and Economics

Background: Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) as oilseeds and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) as pulses are very popular and potential crops but there is lack of research work on mustard + faba bean intercropping system. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to study the effect of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) + Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) intercropping system on growth, yield of crops, economics and system productivity. Methods: The study was carried out for three consecutive years during rabi seasons of 2015-16 to 2017-18 at the Research Farm of Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi under Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar. Treatments comprised of Sole mustard, Sole faba bean, Mustard+Faba bean (1:1), Mustard+Faba bean (1:2), Mustard+Faba bean (1:3), Mustard+Faba bean (1:4), Mustard+Faba bean (1:5), Mustard+Faba bean (2:4), Mustard+Faba bean (2:5) and Mustard+Faba bean (2:6) under replacement series. Result: This study finds that significantly higher number of branches/plant (5.0), number of pods/plant (30.9), number of grains/pod (2.21), 100-grain weight (28.94 g) of faba bean were recorded in 2:5 row ratio than sole faba bean, sole mustard, intercropping systems of faba bean with mustard in 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 row ratios while plant height (134.4), number of branches/plant (10.93), number of pods/plant (170.6), number of grains/pod (9.95), 100-grain weight (0.49 g) of mustard were also found better in all the row ratios of mustard + Faba bean intercropping system than sole mustard. Maximum faba bean equivalent yield (3802 kg /ha) and net return (Rs. 92470/ha) were recorded under faba bean intercropped with mustard in 2:5 row ratio although it was found at par with mustard+faba bean in (1:5), (2:4) and (2:6) row ratios. Therefore, mustard and faba bean intercropping system in row ratio of 2:5 may be recommended.p