INFLUENCE OF SOWING ORIENTATION AND INTERCROPPING OF CHILI ON TOMATO YIELD AND ITS WEEDS

A field trial was conducted at Agriculture Research Station Chitral during summer 2015 to observe the impact of sowing direction and intercropping of chili on tomato yield and the associated weeds. A two factor experiment with three replications was arranged in randomized complete block design. Factor A included sowing directions (viz. north-south and east-west), factor B was termed as intercropping treatments (sole tomato, sole chili, tomato 1 row: chili 1 row (1:1), tomato 1 row: chili 2 rows (1:2), tomato 2 rows: chili 1 row (2:1), and tomato 2 rows: chili 2 rows (2:2). Data were taken on weed density (m^-2), fresh weed biomass (kg ha^-1), tomato plant height (cm), number of tomato fruits plant^-1, fruit yield (t ha^-1), chili yield (t ha^-1) and land equivalent ratio (LER). Results revealed that sowing orientation, intercropping and their interaction significantly increased the yield and yield components of tomato crop. East-west wise sowing direction showed substantial increase in weed density (112.8 m^-2), fresh weed biomass (1134.7 kg ha^-1) and plant height (78 cm); whereas north-south-wise sowing had increased number of tomato fruits plant-1(6.5), tomato fruit yield (18.37 t ha^-1) and chili yield (6.65 t ha^-1). The weed biomass was reduced by sowing tomato seedlings in north-south direction as compared to east-west. As far as the intercropping effect is concerned, highest weed density (148.3 m^-2) and biomass (1964 kg ha^-1) was recorded in the sole tomato plots as compared to the plots where intercropping was done. Plant height was higher (84.86 cm) in intercropping with a ratio of 2 rows of both tomato and chili. In addition, fruits plant^-1(9.02)and fruit yield of tomato (21.92 t ha^-1) were higher in sole tomato plots followed by intercropping with a ratio of 1 row of both tomato and chili (18.5 t ha^-1). Regarding the intercrop (chili), maximum yield of (8.1 t ha^-1) was recorded in sole chili plots as compared to the yields in intercropping. It is thus concluded that sowing tomato seedlings in north south direction and intercropping with a ratio of 1-tomato-row: 1-chili-row showed an excellent combination of environment friendly weed management for an improved yield of tomato crop.