Effect of intercropping seed spices with vegetable for enhancing system profitability

Abstract

A field study on effect of intercropping of seed spices with vegetables for enhancing system profitability was conducted at research farm of ICAR-NRCSS, Ajmer (Rajasthan) during rabi season of 2011-12 and 2012-13. The experiment comprising of nine treatments viz., pea + fennel, pea + ajwain, pea + coriander, cabbage + fennel, cabbage + ajwain, cabbage + coriander, carrot + fennel, carrot + ajwain and carrot + coriander was laid in randomized block design with three replications. Based on two-year study results exhibited that all the vegetables viz. carrot, cabbage and pea performed better with intercropping of fennel compared to ajwain and coriander and accordingly exhibited higher vegetable yield during 2011-12, 2012-13 and in pool. Intercropping of seed spices with carrot resulted higher grain yield of fennel, coriander and ajwain compared with cabbage and pea during both the years and in pool. Among all the intercropping pattern, fennel with cabbage in 1:1 row ratio resulted the highest fennel equivalent yield (30.59 q ha-1) and net return (` 151160/-ha-1) followed by intercropping of carrot with fennel in 1:1 row ratio during 2011-12,2012-13 and in pool. The highest benefit cost ratio of 4.66 was obtained in intercropping of cabbage with fennel followed by intercropping of cabbage with ajwain (4.16). Thus, it is inferred that inter cropping of fennel with cabbage in 1:1 row ratio is better for realizing higher fennel equivalent yield, net return and BCR followed by cabbage + ajwain.