Wheat/chickpea intercropping under late-sown conditions

Field experiments to determine the optimum fertilizer treatment and ratio of wheat to chickpea in late-sown irrigated intercropped populations were done during the winter seasons of 1983–85 on sandy loam soils at the research station of the Directorate of Pulses Research, Kanpur, India. Of the three populations tested (2:2, 2:1 and 3:1 row ratios of wheat: chickpea), the 2:2 row ratio allowed more light interception and transmission to the lower canopy and gave significantly higher yield (4155 kg/ha wheat equivalent) and land equivalent ratio (LER) than the other treatments. Chickpea yields were reduced more than those of wheat under all intercropping systems and the reduction was largest at the 3:1 row ratio. Wheat (cv. Sonalika) was more productive than chickpea (cv. BG261). Application of the normally recommended rate of fertilizer to the wheat only was as effective as applying fertilizers, at the appropriate rates, to both the component crops; indicating that fertilizers applied only to wheat were adequate to meet the requirements of the associated chickpea also.