Effect of planting geometry on yield of capsicum (Capsicum annum L.) intercropped with vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)

Abstract

Capsicum (Capsicum annum) and vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) are two important vegetable crops grown throughout the year in the Eastern region of Sri Lanka and is a suitable combination for intercropping. Modification of planting pattern of capsicum would make intercropping of cowpea feasible. Therefore, this study was done to determine the effect of planting pattern on the yield of capsicum intercropped with vegetable cowpea. A Randomized Complete Block Design with six treatments was used and size of each plot was 1.7 m x 1.7 m. Sole cropping and intercropping (alternate row planting and paired row planting) of capsicum and vegetable cowpea were evaluated. The results showed that number of pods per plant and pod weight of capsicum per plot were slightly high in sole cropping however yield of capsicum did not significantly differ among the treatments when increased plant population per unit area. The additional yield of vegetable cowpea obtained in intercropping system. Further, Land equivalent ratio of all intercrops was greater than one. It indicated that productivity per unit land area was more in intercropping than monocropping. In the economical point of view, 30/60 cm-paired row planting of capsicum is the best productive and profitable system in the sandy regoso