Mango (Mangifera indica)-based cereal-pulse cropping system.
Rajput M. S., Biswas P. P., Joshi O. P., Srivastava K. C.
Author Affiliation: Central Institute of Horticulture for Northern Plains, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226?016, India.
Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 59 : 149-153
Abstract : In a 7-year trial from 1979 to 1986 mangoes (cv. Dashehari) were grown with or without intercropping systems of Vigna mungo cv. Type 9-wheat cv. RR 21, V. radiata cv. C851-wheat, fallow-wheat or V. unguiculata subsp. cylindrica cv. Rituraj-wheat. None of the intercropping systems adversely affected mango yields during the 4 cropping years (1983-86) although they delayed the onset of maximum bearing by 1-2 years. The changes in soil fertility status (depletion of organic C, available P and available K) suggest that a pure stand of mangoes should receive fertilizers; where intercropping was used, both soil basins and the interspace area were enriched. Pest control in mango comprised 35.5% of the total cost of production, whereas with intercropping systems the major expenditure was on labour. The net yearly average income from mango over the 7 years was Rs 214-295/ha in all systems. Depending on the intercropping system, the income/year increased 6-14 times compared with that for mango alone; it was highest with V. unguiculata-wheat.