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Crop Research

Enhancing yield and economic returns through interspecific interactions in a wheat–leafy vegetable intercropping system

 

DOI: 10.31830/2454-1761.2026.CR-1096    | Article Id: CR-1096 | Page : 37-48
Citation :- Enhancing yield and economic returns through interspecific interactions in a wheat–leafy vegetable intercropping system. Crop Res. 61: 37-48
ASIA AKTER SHIPA, A K M MOMINUL ISLAM, AMENA AKTER, MD. MASUD RANA, SABINA YEASMIN AND MD. PARVEZ ANWAR parvezanwar@bau.edu.bd
Address : Department of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
Submitted Date : 22-01-2026
Accepted Date : 13-02-2026
Online Published:

Abstract

Wheat production in Bangladesh remains inadequate to meet rising demand, increasing dependence on imports. Intercropping improves agricultural productivity by optimizing resource use, controlling weeds, and stabilizing food production to reduce shortage risks. However, the productivity and economic benefits of wheat–leafy vegetable intercropping under local conditions remain insufficiently studied. To explore this potential, an experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, from November 2023 to March 2024. The study aimed to assess the feasibility of cultivating leafy vegetables, mustard, spinach, and red amaranth as intercrops with wheat (cultivar BARRI Gom-33). The experiment employed two wheat planting patterns: 50 cm spaced three-row and four-row wheat strips, alongside sole cropping of wheat and leafy vegetables. Results demonstrated that key wheat parameters, plant height, number of grains per spike, grain yield, and straw yield, were significantly affected by the intercropping treatments. Notably, grain yield was highest in sole wheat (3.18 t/ha) and lowest (1.50 t/ha) in mustard intercropped with wheat at 50 cm three-row spacing. Leafy vegetable yields varied per cropping pattern, with mustard intercropped at 50 cm three-row spacing producing the highest total vegetable yield (14.60 t/ha). Relative yield of wheat ranged from 0.51 to 0.54, indicating approximately 50% yield reduction due to intercropping. All intercropping systems had land equivalent ratios (>1), with the highest (1.13) in red amaranth with 50 cm four-row wheat strips, indicating land-use efficiency. Intercropping enhanced wheat equivalent yields (up to 11.72 t/ha) and economic benefits, with benefit-cost ratios reaching 4.49 in mustard-wheat systems, demonstrating the advantages of strategic intercropping over sole cropping. Overall, the findings suggest that intercropping leafy vegetables, especially mustard, with wheat, particularly in 50 cm spaced strips with three or four rows, is a promising approach for increasing both productivity and economic gains.

Keywords

Benefit cost ratio equivalent yield intercropping land equivalent ratio vegetable wheat

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