EFFECTS OF LIGHT INTERCEPTION ON SECOND INTERCROP PRODUCTION IN SUGARCANE

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute (BSRI) farm during 2005-2006 cropping season under irrigated condition to investigate the possibility of growing mungbean as sequential intercropping at 90 and 150 cm sugarcane row to row spacing of sugarcane varieties Isd 31 and Isd 32. Results showed that cultivation of mungbean as 2nd intercrop with sugarcane leaf clipping had no adverse effects on tillering, millable cane production and cane yield . Irrespective of varieties sugarcane cultivation with leaf clipping at 150 cm row to row spacing significantly increased fresh plant weight, leaf, grain number and branch production. Leaf clipping had impact on 1000 grain weight, leaf area etc. It indicates that sugarcane leaf clipping and wider spacing reduced light interception and allowed higher light availability to mungbean grown as 2nd intercrops resulting higher photosynthesis.