Productivity and profitability of mango (Mangifera indica L.) based intercropping system under rainfed agro-climatic conditions of Madhya Pradesh.
Baghel B. S., Rajesh Tiwari, Nishith Gupta
Author Affiliation: Department of Fruit Science (Hort.), Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur - 482 004, India.
South Indian Horticulture 52 : 1-4
Abstract : An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of intercrops on the yield of mango (cv. Dashehari) and on the production potential and economic returns of different mango-based intercropping systems (mono, companion and sequential) under rainfed agro-ecosystem of Madhya Pradesh, India. The treatments under mono intercropping system were mango alone (clean cultivation), mango+maize (cv. G-5), mango+pigeon pea (cv. No.148), mango+tomato (cv. Pusa Early Dwarf), mango+cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba cv. Pusa Navbahar) and mango+okra (cv. Parbhani Kranti); under companion intercropping system were mango+(pigeon pea+soyabean cv. JS-90-41), mango+(pigeon pea+tomato) and mango+(pigeon pea+black gram cv. T-9); and under sequential intercropping system were mango+black gram+Indian mustard (cv. Pusa Bold), mango+soyabean+coriander [Coriandrum sativum] (cv. Cimpo-S-33) and mango+cowpea (cv. Pusa Komal)+bengal gram [Cicer arietinum] (cv. JG-315). All the intercrops were sown/transplanted on 12 and 13 July 2000. Cultivation of cowpea (kharif), followed by bengal gram (rabi), as an intercrop in mango orchard recorded the highest yield (73.92 q/ha), which was significantly superior than other intercropping systems. The lowest yield (5.58 q/ha) was recorded with maize as an intercrop. Intercropping of cowpea+bengal gram also proved beneficial for increasing the yield (50.12 q/ha) of mango by 13.26% compared to clean cultivation, followed by pigeon pea+soyabean and pigeon pea+black gram. Intercropping of maize, tomato and okra caused 11-19% mango yield losses compared to clean cultivation. The highest monetary returns (Rs 73?227/ha), net returns (Rs 59?227/ha) and cost benefit ratio (1:4.23) were obtained when pigeon pea+tomato were grown in 2:2 paired rows as companion intercrops, followed by cowpea+bengal gram (Rs 52?660/ha) and pigeon pea (Rs 50?767/ha) alone as an intercrop in mango orchard.