[01] P. Choudhuri, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Faculty of Horticulture, Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal. [02] J. C. Jana, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Faculty of Horticulture, Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal.

A field experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm of UBKV during rabi seasons of 2008 and 2009 to assess the effect of intercropping on growth, yield, and quality characters of potato with mustard in five different row ratio. The pooled result revealed that sole cropping of potato recorded maximum values for all the growth parameters. Highest potato equivalent yield per hectare (23.61 ton/ha) was obtained from potato and mustard intercropping with 2:1 row ratio. Potato and mustard grown in 1:1 row ratio recorded lowest value for all these yield attributes. The quality parameters namely starch, sucrose and glucose content of potato tuber were not significantly influenced by the different intercropping treatments. Potato and mustard intercropping system with 2:1 row ratio was found best user of biological resources as it recorded maximum values for LER(1.63) ,RCC (8.70) and lower values of aggressivity (-0.39) and competitive ratio (0.53) with highest net return (Rs.75255.25) and maximum B:C ratio (2.43) among all the treatment combinations. Potato + mustard grown in 1:1 ratio was found most competitive and aggressive than all other systems of intercropping.

Potato, Intercropping, Growth, Yield, Quality Parameters, Economics

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