Effect of Mixed Cropping of PisLm sativum L. on Acyrthosiphon pisum (HarrisJ Infestation and Ascochyta Blight Infection in Ethiopia

Abstract

The effect of mixed cropping field pea (Pisum sativum) with faba bean (Vicia faba), wheat ( Triticum aestivum) and Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata) on the incidence of ascochyta blight and the population dynamics of pea aphid and its natural enemies was studied during the 2000 and 2001 growing seasons. The experiment was conducted at three locations, in a randomized complete block design involving seven treatments, each replicated four times. Data were collected on ascochyta blight severity, population densities of Acyrthosiphon pisum and its natural enemies, number of pods/plant, 100 seed weight and grain yield. Field pea
intercropped with mustard had less disease severity and aphid infestation compared to field pea planted in a monoculture. The pooled results for locations and seasons showed that the field pea plus Ethiopian mustard intercropping was superior to pea pure stand in terms of grain yield, land equivalent ratio and economic return.