INTERCROPPING OF MUSTARD AND ITS EFFECT ON APHID AND HONEYBEE

Abstract

A study was conducted in the experimental farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University during the period from November 2012 to March 2013 to find out the effect of intercropping on the incidence of aphid and its subsequent impact on growth and yield of mustard and its pollinator honeybee population. The intercroppings were mustard (Brassica napus, Var. Bari Sarisha-7) with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), onion (Allium cepa L.), garlic (Allium sativum L), coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), radhuni (Trachyspermum roxburghianum) and gram (Cicer arietinum L.). Sole cropping of mustard was also grown to compare the effectiveness of intercropping system. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications.The overall result indicates that the intercropping of mustard with onion, garlic, coriander and rahuni decreased the incidence of aphid population on mustard and increased the abundance of visiting honeybee compared to sole cropping of (mustard). When aphid number (3.81) was increased in mustard + gram (T6) intercropping system, at that time pod formation/plants (24.78) and seed weight/plot (7.63) were decreased. On the other hand, when aphid number (2.99) was decreased, at that time, pod formation and seed weight/plot (9.87) were increased. It was also observed that, when honeybee population (72.65) was increased then pod formation, seed weight/plot was also increased. On the other hand, when honeybee population (47.12) was decreased then pod number/plants, and seed weight/plot were also decreased.