FEASIBILITY AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF INTERCROPPING IN FCV TOBACCO UNDER IRRIGATED ALFISOLS IN ANDHRA PRADESH

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted in tobacco based intercropping system at ICAR-CTRI RS, Jeelugumilli, Andhra Pradesh during Rabi season 2005-06 and 2006-2007 in Alfisols under irrigated upland ecosystem The results revealed that tobacco green leaf yield with the intercrops tested was significantly higher than sole tobacco except with radish. Total productivity of tobacco with different intercrops was rather improved as compared to sole tobacco. Garlic and coriander intercrops had complementary effect on base crop tobacco and the cured leaf yield of tobacco with garlic and coriander was higher by 217 (9.36) and 162 kg/ha (6.99%) respectively, as compared to that of sole tobacco (2318 kg/ha). Though there were significant differences in tobacco lamina quality characters due to different intercrops all the values were within the acceptable range. The intercropping system tobacco + amaranthus recorded maximum net returns of Rs 1,26,788/ha and benefit: cost ratio of 1.48 and there was 51.94% percent increase of net returns over sole tobacco. The other remunerative intercropping systems were tobacco + garlic followed by tobacco + fenugreek and tobacco + radish with a net returns of Rs 1,25,658, Rs 1,16,583 and Rs 1,14,700 and benefit: cost ratio of 1.46, 1.43 and 1.43, respectively. All the tobacco based intercropping systems showed net returns of >Rs 1,03,918 and benefit: cost ratio of >1.39 while sole tobacco recorded lower values of net returns (Rs 83,448) and B: C ratio (1.36). It can be concluded that component crops viz., amaranthus, spinach, fenugreek, coriander, carrot, onion, garlic and radish can be grown successfully without much competition to tobacco in between two paired rows of tobacco. Thus, in the long run the farmers in irrigated Alfisols under Northern Light Soils in East and West Godavari (dt) of AP and Khammam (dt) of Telangana may choose a system that gives maximum net returns as per the prevailing market demand taking into consideration the incidence of insect pests and diseases as well as soil health.