Effect of planting pattern and fertilizer management on castor (Ricinus communis) based intercropping system

A 2 year field experiment on castor (Ricinus communis L.) based intercropping system comprising main plot treatments of castor sole crop, combinations of castor greengram (Phaseolus radiatus L.), castor clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taubert], castor sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) with 2 planting patterns (1 :2 paired row) and subplot treatments of control, FYM 10 tonneslha, 80 kg Nlha and 40 kg IVIha 5 tonnes FYMIha was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Keshwana, Jalore, during 1996 97 and 1997 98. Castor clusterbean intercropping yielded 10% higher average castor equivalent yield than castor sole cropping. Sesame intercropping in castor found superior to castor sole cropping only for early sowing. Paired row geometry (60 120 x 60 cm) had no advantage over normal geometry (90 cm x 60 cm) in castor sole cropping as well as intercropping with other crops. Half of dose N (40 kg Nlha) with half dose of FYM (5 tonneslha) was found at par with the full dose of N (80 kglha). Sole cropping of castor as well as intercropping system based on castor when fertilized with 80 kg Nlha through chemical fertilizer or half through chemical fertilizer and half through FYM resulted in higher return.