Mustard (Brassica spp) is a major oilseed crop in the world which is grown in 53 countries including Bangladesh [1] . It is the most dominant oilseed crop in Bangladesh and covers alone 80% of the total area under oilseed crops [2] . The area under mustard cultivation in 2001 was 317,800 ha and reached 294,206 ha in 2014 along with total production increased from 238,000 t to 296,000 t [3] . Currently, Bangladesh is producing 0.36 million tons of edible oil but total requirement is far from actual demand (1.4 million tons) [4] . As a result, Bangladesh needs to invest to import edible oils from other countries for mitigating the demand for additional population and changing of dietary habits and nutritional awareness for total population. The investment for the import of mustard oil increased substantially from 2006 (2.42 million BDT) to 2014 (50.59 million BDT) [3] . This statement indicates that production of mustard crop urgently needs to be increased in Bangladesh. However, increasing of mustard cultivation area is difficult due to several reasons. Among them, climate change and insect pest infestation are the major obstacles to produce mustard crop.

Several insect pests are responsible for hampering mustard production and yield reduction in Bangladesh. To date, 38 insect pests are documented with rapeseed-mustard crop in India [5] . Among them, mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi Kalt. (Homoptera: Aphididae) is the most destructive pest in all the mustard growing regions of the country [6] . Both nymphs and adults of the mustard aphid infest the leaves, inflorescences and immature resulting poor pod setting and yield reduction [7] . They also induce growth of fungus that causes dirty and black pods and leaves [8] . L. erysimi causes 35.4% to 96% yield loss, 30.9% seed weight loss and 2.75% oil loss [5] [9] . Application of control measure for this pest is necessary to reduce the yield loss and increase mustard production. However, currently farmers rely only on chemical insecticide for controlling this pest. This insecticide has tremendous effects on environment, biodiversity, human and animal health. To mitigate these problems, alternative approach is needed. So, there is a big challenge for agriculturist to explore alternative approaches to increase sustainable production [10] .

Conventional farming practices contributed to increase yields during the 20^th century, but are today contested for their negative impact on the environment [11] [12] , human health [13] and imbalance of ecosystem [14] . Industrialized monoculture systems, which are highly dependent on the use of external inputs such as agrochemicals (i.e. synthetized fertilizers, chemical pesticides, growth regulators), favoured the simplification of agroecosystems [15] [16] . In contrast, promoting functional biodiversity, which supports ecological processes, may allow agricultural systems to benefit from various ecosystem services, including nutrient cycling, soil structuration and pest control [17] [18] . One of the “agrobiodiversity strategies” to improve the sustainability of wheat production [19] is to increase plant species diversity at the field scale though intercropping designs [20] [21] [22] .

Intercropping is an alternative practicable solution that combats crop insect pests [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] . It involves the cultivation of at least two crop species simultaneously in the same land [28] [29] . Mechanisms behind managing pest by intercropping system where the crops grow rather than main crops are not likely to be infested by the same insect pest [25] . It is a potential cultural practice for pest management since it diversifies crops in a given agro-ecosystem to reduce the population of insects and consequently their attack [30] [31] [32] . Research findings demonstrate that intercropping saves the target crop using several mechanisms. Non-host crops grown in intercropping can emit organic chemicals which adversely affect the pest insects, providing some degree of protection [27] . This might be happened due to the attention of biocontrol agents (natural enemies) of insect pests by the emission of organic chemicals or acts repelling the insect pest [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] . Sometimes mixed crop acts a barrier crop which hinders the movements of insect pests and thus the susceptible plant will suffer less [38] .

Success for intercropping for pest management depends on the choice of associated crops and their additional valuation after harvest, to some extend knowledge of the farmers and mechanization practice used [10] . Several studies have been conducted and selected best intercropping practice with their associated crop that provide a successful crop production practice [23] [29] [31] [32] [39] . This study was undertaken to select best associated crop in mustard production by controlling major pest, L. erisimi.

Experimental site

The experiment was conducted during the period from November 2012 to March 2013 at experimental farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The location of the experimental site was 24˚09'N latitude and 24˚26'E longitude and an elevation of 8.2 m from sea level. The selected experimental plot was medium high land and the soil series was Tejgaon. The soil characterized by poor fertility and impeded by internal drainage. The pH of the experimental soil ranged from 5.5 to 6.2.

Experimental design and treatments

The experiment was conducted using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with seven treatments. Each treatment was replicated three times. Mustard variety, Tori-7 was used for this experiment. The plant height of this variety ranges 60 - 75 cm and the life cycle is 75 - 75 days when cultivated in Robi season. Treatments were mustard (Brassica spp) with T₁-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), T₂-onion (Allium cepa L.), T₃-garlic (Allium sativum L.), T₄-coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), T₅-radhuni (Trachyspermum roxburghianum L), T₆- gram (Cicer arietinum L.) and T₇-mustard alone.

Seed collection for intercropping

The Mustard (Brassica napus var. Tori-7) was collected from Oilseed Research Center, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur. Wheat, onion (BARI onion-l), garlic (BARI Garlic-l) bulbs and coriander, radhuni, gram, seeds were collected from Spices Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur.

Experimental Procedure

The experimental plot was opened in the first week of November 2012 with a power tiller, and was exposed to the sun for a week, after which the land was harrowed, ploughed and cross-ploughed several times followed by laddering to obtain a good tilth. Weeds and stubble were removed, and finally obtained a desirable tilth of soil for sowing of mustard Seeds. The unit plot size was 25 m × 12 m. The distance between plots and blocks were 0.75 m and 1.0 m, respectively. Row to row distance for mustard was 50 cm . Similar distance was maintained when every seeds were sown. The fertilizers N, P, K, S, Zn and B in the form of Urea (300 kg/ha), TSP (180 kg/ha), MP (100 kg/ha), Gypsum (180 kg/ha), Zinc sulphate (07 kg/ha) and borax (15 kg/ha), respectively were applied. The entire amount of TSP, MP, Gypsum, Zinc sulphate and borax were applied during the final preparation of land. Urea was applied in two equal installments at final land preparation and at 30 days after seed sowing.

The seeds of mustard were sown in sole and in intercrop plot on 24 November 2012. The seeds of wheat, onion (bulb), garlic (bulb), coriander, radhuni, gram were sown on the same date. After establishment of seedlings, all other intercultural operations such as, thinning, weeding, irrigation were performed as per as when necessary for better growth and development of the mustard crop. Single irrigation was applied just once before flower initiation. Plots were provided with well arranged drainage facilities as prevention process of removing excess rain water if any. Weeding was done twice in the field to keep the plots free from weeds to ensured better growth and development of the crops. The newly emerged weeds were uprooted carefully at flowering stage by mechanical method.

Data collection and analysis

The data on the following parameters were recorded at different time intervals as given below: Total number of infested plants/plot, total number of branches/ plant, total number of infested branch/plant, total number of pod/plant, number of infested pod/plant, total number of flower/plant, number of infested flower/ plant, total number of Aphid (aphid/cm), number of honey bees (Aphis florae and Aphis indica), total number of seeds of five selected plants/plot, weight of total number of seeds/5 selected plant, total number of pods/5 selected plants, weight of pods/5 selected plants. Total number of infested plant was counted from each replication from randomly selected five plants. Total number of branch was counted from each replication from randomly selected five plants. Total number of infested branch was counted from total number of branch among selected five plants. Total number of flower was counted from each replication from randomly selected five plants. Total number of infested flower was counted from total number of flower among selected five plants. Total number of pod was counted from each replication from randomly selected five plants. Average number of seed per plant was also counted and total seed weight was measured. Total number of aphid was counted from 1 cm from the inflorescense from each replication from randomly selected five plants. Number of honeybees (Apis florea and Apis indica) was recorded randomly from five selected plants.

Mustard was harvested at the maturity (93 days of sowing without disturbing the other inter crops) was done manually from each plot. Wheat, garlic and onion were harvested 102 days after sowing. The radhuni, coriander and gram were harvested at same date respectively. Different harvested crops of each plot was bundled separately, properly tagged and brought to laboratory floor. Care was taken for harvesting, threshing and also cleaning of mustard and other companion crops. The seeds were cleaned and finally the weight was recorded and converted into per hectare yield. Mustard of each plot was threshed separately, cleaned, sun dried, weighed and packed. Radhuni was threshed carefully because the grain is light and small in size. Mature onion and garlic bulbs were separated from the stem using sickle manually. The data collected from this work were subjected to analysis of variance followed by Fisher’s L.S.D. test. The data were subjected to analysis of variance. Some sorts of data were also analyzed using ANOVA and means were compared by the Tukey’s test. Significance was set at 0.05. Data were transferred to logarithm scale or arcsine transformation in order to homogenize the variance. Linear regression analysis was also performed between honeybee population and pod formation/plant. All statistical analyses were done using the SPSS software version 16.0.

Impact of intercropping on aphid population and plant infestation

The results showed that intercropping mustard with other six crops had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on aphid population during the crop growing period. The pest incidence varied across the intercropping systems. The intercropping systems mustard with onion, mustard with coriander, mustard with garlic and mustard with radhuni showed lower population levels (14.98 to 15.40 per plant). The higher level of aphid population (19.07/plant) was recorded in mustard with gram (T₆) intercropping system which was statistically different from all other intercropping systems (F=, p < 0.05). Four intercropping systems over sole crop including onion, coriander, garlic and radhuni decreased significant percentage of aphid population but other two intercropping systems significantly increased percentage of aphid population (Figure 1). Mustard plants with intercropped crops were greatly influenced by the presence of aphid that has impact on crop yield.

Intercropping systems influenced plant infestation. The lowest percent branch infestation was found both in mustard with radhuni (T₄) and mustard with coriander (T₅) intercropping systems and having no significant statistical difference

between them (Figure 2). Significant higher % branch infestation was found in sole crop followed by T₁, T₂ and T₃ intercropping systems. The result indicates that intercropping of mustard with spices reduced aphid infestation over sole crops in the field. Flower is the most attractive part of mustard plant and highly infested by aphids in field. Significant variation was observed in terms of flower infested by aphid at different intercropping systems. The mustard with onion (T₂) intercropping system sowed the lowest % of flower infestation. But the highest % of flower was infested by aphid was recorded in sole mustard crop (Figure 3). All tested intercropping systems showed significant lower pod infestation (%) than that of sole cropping system (data not shown). Among the intercropping systems, T₅ intercropping system showed the lowest pod infestation but statistically similar with T₄ intercropping system (data not shown).

Impact of intercropping on honeybee population

Intercropping enhances biodiversity and interactions among plants, arthropods, mammals, birds and microorganisms providing in a more stable agro- ecosystem and a more efficient use of natural resources (such as space, water,

sunlight and nutrients). Mustard is a cross pollination crop and sometimes its yield depends on the presence of natural pollinators such as honeybees. Therefore, intercropping can increase the number of pollinators in mustard field and thus improves crop yield. In our study we tested different intercropping systems with mustard and results revealed that mustard plants with intercropped the honeybee population that can alter crop yield. We documented two honeybee species, Apis indica and A. florae during mustard growing period in experimental plots. Results showed that the highest number of Apis indica was recorded in mustard with wheat (T₁) intercropping system and no significant variation was found among the intercropping systems (Figure 4). The lowest number of A. indica was recorded in mustard with onion and garlic intercropping systems. The highest number of A. florae was recorded (3.97) in mustard with radhuni intercropping system (T₄). On the other hand, the lowest number of A. florae was recorded in mustard with coriander (T₅) intercropped system.

Crop yield

Significant variation was observed in terms of number of branches/plant at different intercropping systems (Table S1). The highest number of branches/plant was recorded in mustard sole (T₇) followed by T₆ (mustard with gram), T₃ (mustard with garlic) and T₅ (mustard with coriander) intercropping system having no significant difference among them (Table S1). On the other hand, the lowest number of branch/plant was recorded in mustard with onion (T₂) intercropping system. Significant variation was also observed in terms of flower at different treatments (Table S2). Results showed that the highest number of flower/branch was recorded in mustard with coriander (T₅) which was statistically similar in mustard with garlic (T₃) intercropping system. The lowest number of flower/branch was recorded in mustard with wheat (T₁) intercropped combinations. Number of pods/plant is one of seed components of mustard. Highest number of pod/plant was recorded in mustard with onion (T₂) intercropping system which was statistically similar in mustard with coriander (T₅) and lowest number of pod/plant was recorded in mustard with gram (T₆) (Figure 5). Treatment of intercropping mustard with onion caused a significant increase in number of seeds/plant (g) compared to other treatments (Figure 6). Lowest amount of seeds/plant was recorded in mustard with gram intercropping system. Number of pod formation increased with the increased of honeybee population in crop field. There was a significant linear correlation found between pod formation and honeybee population (Figure 7, F = 51.55; p = 0.001). Intercropping systems also increased honeybee population in mustard field that indicated that some intercropping systems indirectly increased the yield of mustard crop.

Aphid population was documented from all intercropping systems including sole crop and induction or deduction of % population was calculated over the sole crop. Two intercropping systems mustard with wheat and with gram increased % aphid population over sole crop and other four intercropping systems decreased aphid population (%) in mustard field (Figure 1). These results

indicate that all intercropping systems are not suitable for insect pest management and studies are necessary for selection of best companion crop as an intercrop in relation to pest management. The mustard field in monoculture showed a smaller number of plants not attacked after the test from the field in intercropping with onion, garlic, radhuni, coriander. L. erysimi intensely attacked the mustard in monoculture leaving few plants, branches and flowers. This may be happened due to the fact that insects use volatile compounds to find the hosts and this cue can be more effective in monoculture field because the host could release volatile organic compounds [27] . Moreover, it was observed that in areas with mixed cultures (mustard and onion/garlic/coriander/gram), few plants/ braches/flowers were infested and at the harvesting stage, many mustard plants remained non-infested. The intercropping with mustard onion has a direct effect on the aphid, L. erysimi. This effect can be connected to emission of toxic volatile organic compounds or repellent to L. erysimi. The onion also can mask volatile organic compounds released by mustard and insect usually follows these volatiles for their host recognition. Onion plants emit sulfur organic compound named thilos and this compound provides several protective mechanisms mentioned above [40] .

Our study revealed that intercropping systems mustard with wheat and gram increased aphid population over sole crop (Figure 1). This may be happened due to companion crops because companion crop, wheat itself acts as a host for aphid [41] . Intercropping with onion, garlic, coriander and radhuni significantly reduced aphid population (Figure 1). This was happened due to companion crops since they can act as repellents or barrier for movement of aphid population. Companion crops in intercropping system hinder the movements of insect pests and thus the main crop will suffer less damage [38] . Non-host crops that are grown in intercropping system also can emit organic chemicals which adversely affect the pest insects [27] . Other explanation can be applicable that reduction of pest population can be done due to attraction of biocontrol agents (natural enemies) of insect pests by the emission of volatile organic compound or acts repelling the insect pest [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] . In our study, data of natural enemies were not collected, however we can hypothesize that intercropping system enhanced biocontrol agents that reduced pest population in mustard crop. Dhaliwal and Arora [42] reported that pearl millet under intercropping enhanced number of parasitoid and predators. Sometimes intercropping system reduced up to 30% crop pest by increasing natural enemy effect [24] . In this way, intercropping systems can protect crop from pest infestation. Debra and Misheck [43] reported that intercropping cabbage crop with onion and garlic reduced the incidence of insect pest significantly. Particularly intercropping with wheat and garlic reduced aphid population from wheat field [44] and onion is usually used as control of aphid in intercropping system [45] . Besides these, similar to our findings were found in other many scientific studies [18] [32] [46] [47] [48] [49] . In our study, intercropping with mustard and coriander also showed significant pest population decreased over the sole crop (Figure 1). Similar result was found when mustard grown with coriander [50] . It may be happened due to emission of organic volatile compound by the coriander crop that acts as repellent of aphid or attraction of biocontrol agents of aphid.

In our study, intercropping systems did not significantly influenced the population of honeybee in mustard field. Visiting honeybee or other pollinators is important for mustard yield. Intercropping system will not affect the visiting of pollinators in mustard field. Our results showed that intercropping system influenced the pod formation per plant. Intercropping system mustard with onion showed significant higher pod/plant (Figure 5). Higher amount of seed/plant was also recorded in mustard with onion intercropping system (Figure 6). This may be happened due to higher pod formation/plan and lower flower infestation. Our study showed that intercropping system mustard with onion reduced flower infestation (Figure 3) which enhanced higher pod formation (Figure 5). Besides the main crop production, intercropping system also enhanced other crop yield that can maximize the production per unit land. Wszelaki [51] stated that the practice of intercropping can make benefits in a crop production system by decreasing insect pest infestation, lowering external inputs, enhancing biodiversity, increase yield and reduce economic risk.

Based on our experimental results, it can be mentioned that multiple crop species grown in a single land increase biodiversity and encourage natural enemies. Developing mutual interactions misguide insects for host detection, reducing insect pests, lowering pest infestation and lowering external inputs. Plantation of multiple crops exploits different environmental niches, enhancing the total productivity per unit of land, providing financial diversification, as well as lowering the financial risk in case of target crop failure.

Authors declared that they have no conflict of interest.

Afrin, S., Latif, A., Banu, N.M.A., Kabir, M.M.M., Haque, S.S., Emam Ahmed, M.M., Tonu, N.N. and Ali, M.P. (2017) Intercropping Empower Reduces Insect Pests and Increases Biodiversity in Agro-Ecosystem. Agricultural Sciences, 8, 1120-1134. https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2017.810082

Values in the same column accompanied by the same letter(s) are not differ significantly (p = 0.05). T₁ = Mustard + Wheat, T₂ = Mustard + onion, T₃ = Mustard + garlic, T₄ = Mustard + radhuni, T₅ = Mustard + coriander, T₆ = Mustard + gram, T₇ = Sole mustard.

Values in the same column accompanied by the same letter(s) are not differ significantly (p = 0.05). T₁ = Mustard + Wheat, T₂ = Mustard + onion, T₃ = Mustard + garlic, T₄ = Mustard + radhuni, T₅ = Mustard + coriander, T₆ = Mustard + gram, T₇ = Mustard (control).