Intercrop Production of Sesame with Green Gram Optimized for Humera, Ethiopia

Sesame monocropping dominates crop management in the research area, leading to low yield, high insect frequency, and poor soil fertility. The purpose of this study is to assess how intercropping green grams and sesame affects land productivity.To assess the productivity of intercropping sesame varieties with green gram at varying row spacing in one environment of Humera, Western Tigray, Ethiopia, three factorial experiments were carried out in three replicates: (i) cropping system at two levels (mono cropping and intercropping); (ii) two sesame varieties (setit1 and local); and (iii) row spacing at three levels (40 cm, 60 cm, and 80 cm). The findings demonstrated that varied numbers of row spacing and intercropping methods had a significant impact on different yield components of green grams and sesame. Monocultures planted at 40 cm row spacing had the maximum grain yields of both sesame and green gram (6.9 q/ha, 5.3 q/ha, and 13.2 q/ha for setit1, local, and green gram, respectively). Conversely, with intercropping setit1, local, and green gram at 80 cm row spacing, the lowest yields (2.7 q/ha, 2 q/ha, and 3.1 q/ha) were achieved.Intercropping green gram grown at all row spacing gained a significantly lower number of pods dropped over mono-cropping green gram at all row spacing.The highest LER values was gained in intercropped setit1 and local sesame at 60 cm spacing (2.6 and 2.2) while the least (1.1 and 1.2) in 40 cm spacing respectively.Oil content of the tested treatments was similar to the mono-cropping system.