Abstract

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_x0002_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.

Keywords: Castor, intercropping, economics, IER.