Effect of intercropping on the growth, yield parameters and yield of tomato and vegetable intercrops in solid soilless culture under protected condition

Abstract

An investigation to study the effect of intercropping on the growth, yield parameters and yield of tomato and vegetable intercrops in solid soilless culture under protected condition was conducted during Kharif (July-December), 2017 under naturally ventilated polyhouse at Centre of Excellence on Protected Cultivation and Precision Farming, I.G.K.V., Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Elephant foot yam, colocasia, turmeric and ginger were selected as intercrops. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with three replications. Among different intercropping systems, highest plant height was recorded in sole tomato closely followed by in tomato+ turmeric intercropping system. Sole tomato registered the highest number of fruits cluster-1 and highest number of fruits of fruits plant-1. Among different intercropping systems, tomato + ginger registered highest number of fruits plant-1. Sole tomato registered the shortest duration for the first fruit harvest. The average fruit weight of tomato + colocasia, tomato + turmeric and tomato + ginger intercropping systems were statistically at par with the average fruit weight of sole tomato. The highest fruit yield plant-1 was observed in sole tomato followed by tomato + ginger intercropping system. Among different intercropping systems, highest value for total fruit yield acre-1 has been obtained with tomato + ginger intercropping systems. Among different growth and yield parameters of elephant foot yam intercropped with tomato viz., plant height, weight of corms plant-1, total corm yield acre-1 and total corm yield hectare-1, varied significantly as compared to the sole elephant foot yam, while, the number of shoots plant-1 of the elephant foot yam intercropped with tomato was statistically at par with the sole elephant foot yam. Sole colocasia, sole turmeric and sole ginger performed better as compared to the colocasia, turmeric and ginger intercropped with tomato with respect to all the growth and yield parameters.