Abstract

Field experiments were conducted for three years from 1982-83 to 1984-85 during Robi season to study the optimum population requirement for dryland under Sorghum based Cowpea intercropping system at Agricultural Research Station, Kovilpatti. The re- sults revealed that raising 100 per cent population of base crop sorghum with 50 per cent population of cowpea as intercrop arranged in paired row at 2:1 ratio (30 X 15+60 cm) was found to record maximum sorghum grain yield. total grain yield, LER, net return and sorghum equivalent. It was also observed that maintaining 100 per cent population of cowpea as intercrop did not have adverse effect on the yield of 100 per cent popu lation of sorghum, while maintaining of 100 per cent population of sorghum affected the grain yield of cowpea when its population stood to 100 per cent. The result further indi cated that under additive series, the total population under intercropping system should not exceed 150 per cent.

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