EFFECT OF PLANTING METHOD ON PRODUCTION POTENTIAL OF POTATO + PEA INTERCROPPING SYSTEM

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is an important crop of Central India. Tuber yield and its returns rise and fall to the extent causing concern to the farmers. While the economic returns are commanded by market forces, the unstable tuber yield arise from the sensitiveness of the crop to various stresses like pest and diseases, prevailing weather at a particular time. In India biotic and abiotic factors cause losses up to 90% depending upon the variety and control measures adopted (Singh et al. 2003 and Kaushik et al. 2007). On the other hand, fluctuation in the market prices ranging from Rs 3 to 15/kg is also commonly observed. To bring about stability in yield and reduce the price oscillation, means have been suggested by researchers which include inter alia intercropping of mustard with potato. But mustard being a tall stature plant with intermediate growth causes shading and poses operational problems in harvesting, thus losing merit. The types of intercrop and spatial arrangement in intercropping have important effects on the balance of competition between component crops and their productivity (Sarkar and Pal, 2004). Hence, to get best results, a rational approach is required on agronomic information viz. appropriate method of planting in an intercropping system. In present investigation intercrop pea was tried in various planting patterns with potato to alleviate instability problem in cultivation of sole potato and to further diversify potato based intercropping system.