Production potential of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) in intercropping system under different planting patterns, harvest schedules and genotypes of groundnut

An experiment was conducted during spring season of 1999 and 2000 at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, to study the effect of intercropping groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) between the rows of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) on their productivity. Both sunflower and groundnut sown as sole crops and as intercrop in 1+1, 1+2 and 1+3 row patterns maintaining uniform plant population of sunflower in all the treatments. Sunflower and groundnut in intercrop system formed an economically viable combination if groundnut was allowed to continue up to mid-September after harvest of sunflower in June. It showed 64 to 85% higher productivity, depending on groundnut genotype than sole crop of sunflower and groundnut. The combined productivity of both the crops ranged from 35.7 to 42.9 q/ha when groundnut was harvested in September as compared to 23.9 - 28.9 q/ha when groundnut was harvested in June. Different planting patterns (i.e. 1+1, 1+2 and 1+3) did not significantly influence the total productivity of the intercrop system and were equally productive when groundnut was harvested in September. The ‘M 522’ genotype gave higher pod yield than ‘SG 84’. The land-equivalent ratio of 1.81–1.89 also indicated the comparative high yield advantage of this intercrop system. Significantly higher sunflower-equivalent yield and gross income of the system over sole sunflower further established the economic advantage of this system.