Field experiments were conducted in Ceara, Brazil, to study the response of castor bean intercropping with sesame, cotton, maize and cowpea under dryland conditions. The intercropping indices evaluated were LER, LEC, ATER, mean of LER and ATER, SPI, CoR, RCC, CR, A and ALY. Castor beans and intercrops had reductions in yield. Based on the LER, LEC, CRA, AYL and CoR in the intercropping systems, the castor bean + maize treatment was the most advantageous under dryland farming. Based on the A and ALY indices, castor bean was dominated by sesame, cotton, maize and cowpea. The castor bean, cotton, sesame and castor bean, castor bean, maize treatments showed yield stability, which was characterized by the productivity index of the system (SPI).
