Economic feasibility of Melia composite - radish based agrisilviculture systems

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to assess the economic feasibility of Melia composita (8m × 5m, 8m × 4m) - radish based agrisilviculture and sole radish cropping systems. Among different cropping systems [M. composita (8m × 5m)-radish, M. composita (8m × 4m) - radish, and sole radish], the highest net returns of Rs. 2,92,364 per hectare and benefit-cost ratio (3.60) were obtained from M. composita (8m × 5m) - radish based system followed by sole cropping system while the lowest net returns of Rs. 2,19,918 ha-1 were obtained from closer spacing (8m × 4m) of M. composita. The present study pointed out that, intercropping of radish with M. composita at the spatial arrangement of 8m × 5m contributed the highest net returns even in later growth of tree development (up to 12 years). It indicates that M. composita - radish based agrisilviculture system can give better economic returns compared to the sole cropping system.