Production potential and economics of intercropping of lentil (Lens culinaris) with brown sarson (Brassica compestris) and oat (Avena sativa)

A field experiment was conducted during winter season of 2004-05 and 2005-06 at Wadura, Jammu and Kashmir to evaluate the production potential, biological feasibility and economic viability of intercropping of lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) either with brown sarson (Brassica campestris L. sub sp. oleifera var. brown sarson) or oat (Avena sativa L.) in row ratios of 1.1, 2.1, 4:l and 6:l. Lentil yield decreased by 16R68% due to intercropping, and yield of oat was inversely proportional to lentil row number, whereas yield of brown sarson was in the order 4:1, 2:1, 1 :1 and 6:l. Yield components, viz. podslplant, grainslpod and 1,000-grain weight of main crop of lentil, and siliqualplant or tillerlm row, grainslsiliqua or grainslpanicle and 1,000-grain weight of intercrops (brown sarson or oat) also decreased in the intercropping systems. Lentil with brown sarson in 4:l row proportion or oat in 2:l row proportion was most remunerative in respect of net returns (Rs : cost 20,755 and 21,782) and benefit ratio (3.13 and 2.67). These two intercropping systems showed higher lentil-equivalent yield, land-equivalent ra- tio, income-equivalent ratio, area-time equivalent ratio, biological efficiency and monetary advantage among all the intercropping systems.