PRODUCTIVITY OF WINTER CROPS AFTER SOLE RICE (ORYZA-SATIVA), BLACKGRAM (PHASEOLUS-MUNGO), GROUNDNUT (ARACHIS-HYPOGAEA) AND RICE PLUS LEGUMEINTERCROPPING SYSTEMS ON UPLANDS OF BIHAR PLATEAU

An experiment was conducted during rainy and winter seasons of 1990-91 and 1991-92 to study the productivity of winter crops after sole rice (Oryza sativa L.), blackgram (Phaseolus mungo L.) and groundnut (Arac his hypogaea L.), and rice + legume intercropping systems on uplands o f Bihar plateau. After rainy-season crops, viz toria [Brassica rapa (L .) Thell. emend. Metzger var napus L.; syn B. campestris L. spp oleife ra (Metzger) Sinsk. var toria], lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus), barle y (Hordeum vulgare L. sensu lato) and linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) were sown. There was an increase in total grain yield and land-equiva lent ratio by intercropping legumes in rice compared with sole croppin g of rice, although,sole groundnut gave the maximum return in terms of rice-equivalent yield (3.29 tonnes/ha). Yield performance of winter-s eason crops was better after sole legumes or rice + legume intercroppi ng systems than when followed after sole rice. Groundnut-linseed gave the maximum rice-equivalent yield (4.36 tonnes/ha) and net return (Rs 5 195/k).