Biological feasibility and economic viability of intercropping pulse and oilseed crops with sesame (Sesamum indicum) under different planting patterns in rice-fallow gangetic alluvial land

A field experiment was conducted during the early spring season of 1996 and 1997 at Baruipur on rice-fellow gangetic alluvium soil to evaluate the int ercropping system of pulse crops greengram (Phaseolus radiatus L.), blackgr am (Phaseolus mungo L.), and oilseed crop groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) w ith sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in 2 planting patterns. Intercropping was f ound beneficial to sole cropping of sesame. It increased the total crop pro ductivity. The seed yield of sesame was higher in paired row (30-60 cm) tha n in intercropping but the total seed equivalent yield of sesame was highes t (1446 kg/ha) in normal planted (45 cm) sesame + greengram (1 row) system. Normal planting of sesame in association with greengram gave maximum monet ary advantage (Rs 7653/ha), net return (Rs 9139/ha), income-equivalent rati o (2.56), benefit:cost ratio (1.08) and finally relative net return (Rs 1.7 7) among other intercropping systems. This treatment accounted for maximum land-equivalent ratio (1.77), product of crowding coefficient (K > 71.29) a nd area-time equivalent ratio (0.89) and also indicated a modest competitiv e ratio (1.03:0.96) and aggressivity factor (+/- 0.07) which proved the mos t efficient system.