Inclusion of legume and oilseed crop in barley-based intercropping system for enhancing land utilization and productivity

The experiment was conducted at Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, during the Rabi season of 2021-22 and 2022-23. It consisted of 11 treatments. Sole barley, Sole field pea, Sole linseed, barley + field pea (3:3), barley + field pea (4:4), barley + field pea (5:5), barley + field pea (6:6), barley + linseed (3:3), barley + linseed (4:4), barley + linseed (5:5) and barley + linseed (6:6). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. All the yield attributes were recorded maximum under sole cropping of different crops when compared with their respective intercropping systems in various row ratios. Intercropping of barley with field pea (6:6) was found most economical as compared to barley+linseed and sole cropping of barley, field pea or linseed. The maximum barley equivalent yield of 71.37 and 66.09 q ha -1 was recorded in barley+fieldpea intercropping having 6:6 or 5:5 rows, respectively. Barley crop produced significantly highest number of tillers/m 2 (122.2) and test weight was 47.4g when grown as a sole crop followed by barley + field pea (6:6). Barley with field pea (6:6) fetched maximum net returns and B:C of 87111 Rs./ha and 3.39, respectively. Intercropping experiments face challenges related to complex management because it requires careful planning besides considering the crop compatibility and resource allocation.