Author(s): S. JENA, R. NATH AND P.K. CHAKRABORTY

Abstract: Spectral properties of vegetation are important to that aspect, that it affects the radiation environment within the crop canopy. Spectral behaviour of leaf becomes complicated in an intercropping system.A two year study was conducted to analyze the effect of radiation environment in sesamum-green gram intercropping system. Altogether there were nine treatment combinations, where three treatments were related to sole crops of sesamum (cv. Rama) and green gram (cv. B-105 and cv. WBM-4-34-1-1) and remaining treatments represented the intercropping system, where sesamum and green gram were intercropped in 1:1, 2:1 and 4:1 row ratio and the whole experiment was conducted in a RBD layout with four replications at Instructional Farm, B.C.K.V., Jaguli.Absorptance (α), transmittance (ζ) and reflectance (ρ) of sesamum and green gram leaves, were measured at 9.30, 11.30 and 13.30 hrs on 30, 45 and 60th days after emergence, with the help of Tube Solarimeter and Line Quantum Sensor. The results showed that the absorptances for TSR and PAR increased from 9.30hr to 11.30 hr, following a decline at 13.30h under sole crop condition of sesamum and green gram, however the reflectances and transmittances for TSR and PAR recorded a dip at 11-30h with higher flanks at 9-30 and 13.30 h. Under intercropping, all the optical properties of the sesamum and green gram leaves were altered in comparison to sole crop. The productivity of sole green gram was higher than any intercrop row ratios, suggesting unsuitability of growing green gram with sesamum. If sesamum is chosen for main crop, then one may go for 4:1 row ratio, in which absorptance of sesamum will be increased resulting higher productivity of sesamum.

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