Production potential and economic feasibility of sesame (Sesamum indicum)-based intercropping system with pulse and oilseed crops on rice fallow land

A field experiment was conducted during the spring season of 1997 and 1998 at Baruipur, West Bengal, to evaluate the economically and biologically sus tainable intercrop association of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) with greengra m (Phaseolus radiatus L.), blackgram (P. mungo L), groundnut (Arachis hypog aea L.), and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) on rice fallow land. An inter cropping of groundnut with sesame was found most beneficial to sole stand y ield of sesame. Among the intercrop associations, sesame + groundnut under 3:2 row proportion gave the maximum sesame-equivalent yield (947 kg/ha), la nd-equivalent ratio (1.31), product of relative crowding coefficient (K 3.8 7), monetary advantage (Rs 2,913/ha), net returns (Rs 5, 321/ha), income eq uivalent ratio (1.21) and also indicated a modest competitive ratio (0.86:1 .16) and aggressivity factor (+/- 0.37). It proved the best intercrop stand among all the crop associations.