Sustainable intensification of field pea in Bangladesh: intercropping with mustard population enhances system yield and farmer profitability

Abstract

Agriculture is the cornerstone of South Asian economies, but it faces challenges such as limited land, soil degradation, and unpredictable weather. This study evaluates a legume-oilseed mixed cropping system (LOMCS) as a sustainable intensification strategy for the region. We assessed the intercropping of field pea ( Pisum sativum ) and mustard ( Brassica spp.) across various planting combinations during the Rabi seasons of 2020–21 and 2021–22 in Jashore, Bangladesh. The combination of 100% field pea with 30% mustard (T3) demonstrated superior performance, achieving the highest field pea equivalent yield (1.76 t ha −1 ), gross return of 800 USD ha −1 (87,868 BDT ha −1 ), and gross margin of 450 USD ha −1 (49,393 BDT ha −1 ), with a benefit–cost ratio of 2.18. This treatment also showed the highest land equivalent ratio (1.05), indicating 5% greater land-use efficiency than monocultures. The findings demonstrate that the strategic integration of legumes and oilseeds can significantly enhance productivity, profitability, and resource use efficiency, offering a viable pathway to improve socioeconomic conditions for smallholder farmers in South Asia.