Biomass, yield, quality and moisture use of Brassica carinata as influenced by intercropping with chickpea under semiarid tropics

Brassica carinata (Ethiopian mustard) could be a potential oilseed species for the semiarid tropics but no work has been done to explore the agronomic potential of the crop. Besides that, there is very little chance for horizontal growth of the crop as land is shrinking due to population growth in South-East Asia. Thus, the traditional practice of mixed cropping has gained popularity in recent years in the form of intercropping with a suitable modification in planting pattern. The present study was conducted in Ethiopian mustard and chickpea intercropping system with moisture conservation practices (MCP) and different levels of P and S during 2008–09 and 2009–10. Effect on growth, yield and quality of the crops and moisture use, moisture extraction pattern and nutrient balance of the system was also examined. Higher growth and yield was reported in sole stand of both crops, but system yield in terms of mustard equivalent yield was more in intercropping system. MCP and P and S application also improved growth and yield of both the crops. Intercropping system helps in improving consumptive use, moisture use efficiency (MUE) and moisture extraction pattern, and when combined with MCP and proper P and S nutrition better results were obtained. Quality parameters (protein, oil content) were improved and glucosinolate content was decreased with P and S nutrition. The equivalent biomass production under intercropping and whole MUE of mixture were significantly higher than sole cropping and LER of the intercropping system was equal or more than 1 indicating that there was significant advantage of growing Ethiopian mustard and chickpea under replacement series in semiarid tropics of India.