Sustainable intercropping system of sesame (Sesamum indicum) with pulse and oilseed crops on rice fallow land

A field experiment was conducted during the spring seasons of 1997 and 1998 at Baruipur to evaluate the economically and biologically sustainable inte rcrop association of sesame ( Sesamum indicum L.) with greengram (Phaseolus radiatus L.), blackgram (Phaseolus mungo L.), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) on rice fallow land. Intercropping of groundnut with sesame was found most beneficial to sole stand yield of s esame. Among the intercrop associations, sesame + groundnut under 2 : 1 row arrangement gave the maximum sesame equivalent yield (1 245 kg/ha), and la nd-equivalent ratio (1.35), product of. crowding coefficient (K = 4.58), mo netary advantage (Rs 3 550/ha), net return (Rs 5 815/ha), income-equivalent ratio (1.79) and also showed modest competitive ratio (0.42:2.35) and aggr essivity factor (1.26). It proved best stand among all the crop association .