Influence of cutting intervals and intercropping patterns on yield and competition indices in a dual purpose wheat-canola intercropping system

Abstract

Abstract Background The dual purpose intercropping system efficiently utilizes growth resources, ensuring the availability of fresh fodder for livestock and simultaneously stabilizing grain production. The purpose of this study was to assess how cutting intervals and intercropping pattern influence yield and competition indices of a dual-purpose wheat-canola intercropping system, in order to ensure the availability of both feed and food for livestock and humans. The experiment comprised of two factors: wheat-canola intercropping patterns (sole wheat, sole canola, 1:1, 2:2, 3:3, and 4:4 alternating rows of wheat-canola) and cut intervals [no-cut, cut at 60 and 75 days after sowing (DAS)]. Results The results revealed that sole wheat and canola had higher fresh and dry fodder yields when cut at 75 DAS. In terms of grains spike− 1, biological yield, 1000-grains weight, and grain yield, the no-cut sole wheat and canola outperformed than intercropping. However, intercropping canola with wheat in a 2:2 row pattern resulted in a higher number of grains pod− 1 compared to sole canola. The competition indices of wheat-canola intercropping exhibited that wheat had the greatest advantage in the intercropping system across various parameters, including aggressivity, actual yield loss, competition ratio, area-time equivalent ratio, land utilization efficiency, intercropping advantage, monetary advantage index, relative crowding coefficient, land equivalent ratio and system productivity index. The wheat-canola intercropped in 1:1 alternative rows, cutting at 75 DAS and their interaction had the highest competition index values. Conclusion The present study concludes that intercropping wheat-canola in 1:1 alternative rows and cutting at 75 DAS will fulfil livestock feed requirements as well as provide grains for human consumption as food. Farmers should use a 1:1 alternative rows wheat-canola intercropping system and cut at 75 DAS to achieve long-term feed and food security.