Effect of intercropping of vegetables with seed spices on yield and economics under Northern Karnataka region

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of intercropping of seed spices with vegetables to find out suitable intercrop combination for increasing productivity and returns during 2013-14, 2014-15 & 2015-16 at the All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Vegetable crops, Regional Horticultural Research and Extension Center, Dharwad.(Karnataka) during Rabi season. The experiment comprising of fifteen treatments viz., Pea + Fennel (1:1), Pea + Coriander (1:1), Cabbage + Fennel (1:1), Cabbage + Coriander (1:1), Cabbage + Ajwain (1:1), Carrot + Fennel (1:1), Carrot + Coriander, Carrot + Ajwain, sole pea, sole cabbage, sole carrot, sole fennel, sole coriander and sole Ajwain are laid in randomized block design with three replications. results based on three years pooled data revealed that, out of fifteen different treatments, the treatments with sole crops alone recorded highest yield compared to inter crop treatments, however after perusal of data related to economics of production it was observed that cabbage + funnel inter cropping system was most remunerative as it recorded highest net returns and B:C ratio (Rs-110680 and 1.58) followed by inter cropping of pea with funnel (Rs-83450 and 1.39). Thus inter cropping of cabbage with funnel in 1:1row ratio may recommended for getting higher net return and B: C ratio followed by pea +funnel.