Growth and yield of ginger (Zingiber officinale L) under Sapota- Jatropha based agroforestry systems in south Gujarat

Abstract

The field experiments were conducted under support irrigated conditions during 2013-14 and 2014-15 at the Agronomy Farm (Block-E), ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat). The nine year old plantation of Sapota (Manilkara acharas (Mill.) Fosberg) with seven year old plantation of Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) was used for the present intercropping study. The ginger crop with two varieties viz. Zingiber officinale L var. Navsari local and Zingiber officinale L. var. Udaipur local was selected for the study. The experiments were laid out in randomized block design with eight treatments and three replications. The observations on growth and yield were recorded during the course of investigation under study for both the years. At the harvesting stage, maximum fresh rhizome yield and total number of fingers per plant, Plant height, length of rhizome, width of rhizome and survival percent of ginger was registered under Sapota + Jatropha or Jatropha based agro-forestry systems as compared to their sole cropping.