The Effect of Biological and Chemical Nitrogen Fertilizers on Pinto Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and Black Mustard (Brasassica nigra L.) Intercropping

In order to evaluate the effect of application of biological and chemical nitrogen fertilizers on the intercropping of pinto bean and black mustard, this experiment was conducted.

The first factor was considered at four levels: No fertilizer, bio-fertilizers (azotobarvar 1 and barvar 2), bio-fertilizer + 50% chemical fertilizers urea (125 kg.ha-1) and bio-fertilizers + 100% chemical fertilizers urea (250 kg.ha-1). The cropping pattern was also classified as the second factor in four levels: pure bean, pure black mustard, incremental intercropping with a ratio of 50% black mustard, optimum density of pinto bean mono-cropping, and an incremental intercropping with optimum density of two species in mono-cropping.

Ground cover percentage, leaf chlorophyll index and grain yield in pinto bean and black mustard and also the oil yield of black mustard increased by application of bio-fertilizer + 100% urea fertilizer. The lowest seed oil content was obtained from bio-fertilizer + 100% chemical fertilizer treatment. The highest percentage ground cover of pinto bean and black mustard (93.08%) and maximum leaf chlorophyll index of pinto bean (23.61) were obtained in incremental intercropping with optimum density of two species in mono-cropping. The highest grain yield of pinto bean (3269.92 kg.ha-1) and black mustard (2066.65 kg.ha-1) and yield of black mustard oil (865.65 kg.ha-1) were obtained in their pure cultivation.

Based on the land equivalent ratio and relative value total indices, it was evident that intercropping of pinto bean and black mustard was more beneficial than mono-cropping.