Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar, Tamil Nadu, India to find out the effect of Intercropping unconventional greenmanures on pest incidence and yield of cotton during the year 2004 -2005 in well drained sandy clay loam soil. Four cropping systems viz, sole cotton, cotton + marigold (Tagetus erecta L.), cotton + sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.) and cotton + sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) were tested (Factor A) in single and double rows (Factor B) incorporating them on 30 and 40 DAS (Factor C). The results revealed that intercropping with marigold in two rows in between cotton rows and incorporating it on 30 DAS had contributed ultimately to less incidence of pests and more kapas and lint yield of cotton securing higher yield advantage in both summer and winter crops Sunnhemp and sesamum had moderate and low effects, respectively on pest incidence.

Keywords: Cotton, unconventional green manure, pest incidence, yield