EFFECT OF INTERCROPPING SHORT DURATION CROPS ON THE PRODUCTION OF SUGARCANE CROP

Abstract

The study on intercropping of autumn planted sugarcane with onion, wheat, Lentil, Mustard and Safflower was carried out at the experimental Field of Sugarcane Research Station, QAARI Larkana during the year 2005-2006. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block with four replications with ultimate plot size of 8 x 8m (64m2 ). The results obtained were analysed and reported briefly. The results were statistically non-significant for germination %age, number of tiller per stool and plant height. Maximum germination (59.98%) was recorded when sugarcane was planted sole followed by sugarcane + Lentil intercropping i.e. (58.00%). The same trend was noted for number of tillers stool-1, cane girth and internodes/cane. The cane yield ha-1 of sugarcane was maximum (120.97 m.t ha-1), when sugarcane planted alone, whereas all the intercrops reduced cane yield significantly. Smoothly and competitive effect was observed for all intercrops when sown with sugarcane.