Response of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) intercropping to different row ratios and nitrogen levels under rainfed conditions of temperate Kashmir

A field experiment was conducted at the research farm of Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-K Regional Research Station, Wadura in Kashmir during rainy (kharif) season 2002 and 2003, to study the response of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) intercropping to different row ratios (1:1 and 2:2) and nitrogen levels (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg/ha) under rainfed conditions. Intercropping reduced the values of growth parameters, yield attributes and seed yield of both sunflower and french bean compared with their sole crops. Both the intercroppings recorded significantly higher sunflower-equivalent yield (SEY), net income and benefit: cost ratio than their sole stands. Intercropping of sunflower + french bean under 2:2 row ratio recorded significantly higher SEY (1,231 kg/ha), land-equivalent ratio (1.25), net income (Rs 13,138/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.95), and also indicated a modest competitive ratio (2.10:0.48), followed by sunflower + french bean in 1:1 ratio. Both sunflower and french bean in sole and intercropping responded favourably up to 80 kg N/ha only for leaf-area index, dry-matter accumulation, yield attributes, seed yield, N uptake, net income and benefit: cost ratio. The interaction effects of the factors showed that mean SEY responded to N application up to 80 kg/ha in 2:2 row ratio of sunflower + french bean.