Relay Intercropping of Cotton with Wheat in Reclaimed Land

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

A FIELD trial was carried out at the Nubaria Agricultural Research Station, Egypt during 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 seasons to study the effect of relay intercropping of cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) with wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) at different sowing dates of cotton (1st of March, 15th of March and 1st of April) and three different varieties of wheat (Gemmiza 7, Sakha 93 and Giza 168) on growth, yield and yield, components of both crops. Results indicated that all intercropping treatments showed yield advantage compared with solid planting. The maximum value of land equivalent ratio (LER) were 1.97 and 1.88 in the first and second season, respectively, and area time equivalent ratio (ATER) were 1.16 and 1.10 in the two seasons respectively were recorded when cotton was planted at date 15th March through relay intercropping with wheat variety cv Sakha 93. The yield and yield components of wheat were affected significantly by different varieties of wheat. The highest wheat yield was obtained when wheat cv. Giza 168 was relayed on cotton at 1th March whereas, the lowest value was obtained when wheat cv. Gemmiza 7 was relayed intercropped with cotton at late date (1st April). The yield and yield components of cotton were affected significantly by planting date of cotton. The highest cotton yield was produced when wheat cv Sakha 93 relayed intercropped with cotton at 15th March whereas, the lowest value was recorded when wheat cv. Gemmiza 7 was intercropped with cotton atlatest date (1st April). The total income was the highest when relayingintercropping wheat cv. Giza 168 were grown with cotton at (15th March). It could be concluded that relay intercropping of cotton with wheat as intensive cropping system is recommended to increase the productivity of the unit area.

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