Performance of Castor (Ricinus communis L.) Based Intercropping Systems in South Gujarat: Growth, Yield and Resource Optimization

A field experiment was conducted at the College Farm, N.M. College of Agriculture,
Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during Rabi 2023-24 to evaluate the performance of
castor (Ricinuscommunis L.)-based intercropping systems in South Gujarat conditions. The
experimental soil was clayey (Vertisols) with low available N (240.42 kg/ha), medium
P₂O₅ (39.58 kg/ha) and high K₂O (338.28 kg/ha) with a slightly alkaline pH (7.68). The
experiment followed a randomized block design (RBD) with nine treatments: T₁ (sole
castor), T₂ (sole green gram), T₃ (sole Indian bean), T₄ (sole sorghum), T₅ (sole sweet
corn), T₆ (castor + green gram (1:2)), T₇ (castor + Indian bean (1:2)), T₈ (castor +
sorghum (1:2)) and T₉ (castor + sweet corn (1:2)).Results showed that castor plant height
was 39.62 cm at 30 DAS, 79.20 cm at 60 DAS and 147.59 cm at harvest. Intercrop heights at
harvest were 75.45 cm (green gram), 73.80 cm (Indian bean), 154.20 cm (sorghum) and
152.70 cm (sweet corn). Yield attributes of castor included a main spike length of 49.85 cm,
three spikes per plant and 68.2 capsules per spike leading to a seed yield of 1,625 kg/ha and
stover yield of 3,004 kg/ha. Green gram yielded 750.23 kg/ha, the highest among intercrops.
Oil content (48.67%) was highest in sole castor while T₉ had the highest harvest index
(47.81). T₆ (castor + green gram) proved superior optimizing resource use and productivity.
Thus, intercropping castor with green gram can be recommended for enhanced yield and
profitability in South Gujarat.