GROWTH AND WATER-USE BY YELLOW SARSON (BRASSICA-CAMPESTRIS SUBSP OLEIFERA VAR YELLOW SARSON), SAFFLOWER (CARTHAMUS-TINCTORIUS), CHICKPEA (CICER-ARIETINUM) AND LENTIL (LENS-CULINARIS) GROWN AS SOLE AND INTERCROPS UNDER RAIN-FED CONDITION

An experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 1988-89, 1989 -90 and 1990-91 to study effect of 16 cropping systems (sole and inter croppings) on their growth and water use. The cropping systems were: s ole yellow sarson [Brassica campestris L. ssp. oleifera (Metzger) sins k var. yellow sarson], sole safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), sole lentil (Lens cultinaris Medikus), sole chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), yellow sarson + lentil (1:1), yellow sarson + lentil (2 : 1), yellow s arson + lentil (1 : 2), yellow sarson + chickpea (1 : 1), yellow sarso n + chickpea (2 : 1), yellow sarson + chickpea (1 : 2), safflower + le ntil (1 : 1), safflower + lentil (2 : 1), safflower + lentil (1 : 2), safflower + chickpea (1 : 1), safflower + chickpea (2 : 1) and safflow er + chickpea (1 : 2). The role crop of safflower always recorded the highest amount of dry-matter accumulation, root dry weight and leaf-ar ea index. However, safflower + chickpea at 2 : 1 planting ratio record ed the highest amount of combined root dry weight as well as combined leaf-area index. The highest value of consumptive use was recorded und er sole safflower. However, the sole crop of chickpea recorded the hig hest water-use efficiency in terms of kg/ha/mm. Regarding the pattern of soil-moisture extraction, safflower and chickpea could extract a go od percentage of soil moisture from the deeper layer of the soil, wher eas lentil or yellow sarson + lentil could exploit the upper layer of the soil.