Abstract

The sole crop of cotton recorded significantly higher kapas yield (597, 504 and 536 kg/ha, respectively during 1980-81, 1981-82 and 1982-83) compared to that of cotton intercropped with blackgram, senna, cluster bean, chillies, soybean and coriander, All the intercrops. irrespective of their yield advantage, had reduced the kapas yield of cotton and the reduction was up to 28 per cent. Among the intercrops, the clusterbean had registered higher yield than other intercrops studied and the reduction in kapas yield was compensated by clusterbeen due to its high yielding potential. It was also confirmed that in years of drought with low rainfall and severe moisture stress, the inclusion of clusterbean as intercrop was better and its yield performance was far superior over other intercrops. The possibility of growing senna as second intercrop after the harvest of first intercrops (blackgram and clusterbeans) in cotton is not possible under rainfed black cotton soil in view of the low rainfall received during the cropping period. (267.1 mm. 271.9 m.m and 379.3mm, respectively during 1980-81, 1981-82 and 1982-83) of cotton (October-March) The commercial viz.. coriander and chillies failed to perform. as intercrop due to their poor establishment. The highest nat return of Rs. 2096. Rs.315 and Rs, 1198/ho, respectively were obtained, during 1980-81, 1981-82 and 1982-83 in the cotton +clusterbean intercrepping system followed by cotton + blackgram system,

Keywords: