Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at Annamalai University Experimental Farm, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu during Feb. - May, 2004 (rabi) and June - October, 2004 (kharif) to find out the economically viable castor based intercropping system. Intercrops viz, blackgram, greengram, cowpea, sesame and soybean were grown between castor rows. Among the intercropping systems evaluated, castor + blackgram recorded higher castor seed equivalent yield, land equivalent ratio, net return and return rupee-1 invested and it was followed by castor + greengram intercropping system. The least return rupee-1 invested was with castor + sesame intercropping system. The highest Income Equivalent Ratio (IER) with castor + blackgram in both the seasons of study was recorded.

Keywords: Castor, intercropping, economics, IER