Intercropping in fruit crops

INTERCROPPING IN FRUIT CROPS

Dr. Parshant Bakshi (Associate Professor)

Division of Fruit Science

SAMETI Training on 25th -26th August, 2014”

Intercropping

Intercropping is the cultivation of two or more crops atthe same time in the same field.

Intercropping was originally practiced as an insurance against

crop failure under rainfall conditions.

At present the main objective of intercropping is higher

productivity per unit area in addition to stability in production.

Intercropping systems utilizes resources sufficiently and their

productivity is increased.

Insurance against total crop failure under aberrant weather

conditions or pest epidemics.

Increase in total productivity per unit land area.

Judicious utilization of resources such as land labour and

inputs.

Objectives

Mixed intercropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously with no distinct row arrangement.

Row intercropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously where one or more crops are planted in rows.                               Strip Inter-cropping : Growing two or more crops simultaneously in different strips  wide  enough to permit independent cultivation but narrow enough for the crops to interact ergonomically.  Relay inter-cropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously during part of the life cycle of each. A second crop is planted after the first crop has reached its reproductive stage but before it is ready for harvest.

Types of Intercropping:

Detailed Planning

Timely planting of each crop                              Adequate fertilization at optimal rate and times Effective weed, pest and disease control

Efficient harvesting

Distinct aspects of Intercropping:

Intercropping in fruit crops

Fruit crops as intercrops

Short-term and early bearing fruit crops as an intercrop, due consideration is

essential in the selection of a particular fruit.

This is essential because the roots of such trees may start competing with the

roots of main fruit trees for nutrients and moisture.

The filler trees, unless removed at appropriate time when primary fruit trees

start giving economic crop, may create problems of low orchard efficiency.

Wherever pineapple and strawberry can be grown, these may serve as an

ideal intercrop.

Wherever frost hazard is less, an intercrop of papaya can be taken

profitably in a mango orchard.

Likewise, in the northern plains of India, 'Sharbati' peach can be an

excellent intercrop for mango orchard.

Phalsa and guava could also be included in the early stages of growth of

the trees, provided these are maintained properly by adequate pruning and

removal at proper time.

Fruit crop Intercrops

1. Guava Cauliflower, French Bean, Pea, Lobia, Mung Bean

and Cucurbits

2. Grapes Pea, Cauliflower, French Bean, Chilies, Spinach,

Marigold, Gladiolus and Jasmine

3. Papaya Cauliflower, Onion, Tomato, Capsicum, and Peas.

4. Citrus Cauliflower, Onion, Tomato, Bitter Guard, Bottle

Guard, Peas and Okra.

5. Peach Turmeric, Ginger, Soybean and Cowpea

6.Litchi and Mango Turmeric, Ginger, Bitter Guard, Bottle Guard,

Tomato, Raddish and Cauliflower,

Vegetable as intercrops in fruit orchards

Principles of intercroppingIntercrops should occupy a secondary place in the orchard, primary

consideration being given to the perennial fruit trees.

The crops that may grow tall and have a tendency towards excessive growth

should be discouraged.

At least 120 cm radius must be left from the base of the growing fruit trees

for taking intercrops.

Such intercrops should be selected that do not exhaust the nutrients and

moisture from the soil, so essential for the growth of fruit trees.

Perennial or exhaustive crops should be discouraged as an intercrop in the

orchard.

This may have devitalizing effect on the growing trees. For example,

sugarcane, pigeonpea, maize, jowar should invariably be excluded from an

intercropping programme in the orchard.

Intercropping gives additional yield income/unit area than sole

cropping. Inter-crops maintain the soil fertility as the nutrient uptake is

made from both layers of soil. Reduction in soil runoff and controls weeds. Intercrops provide shade and support to the other crop. Inter cropping system utilizes resources efficiently and their

productivity is increased. Intercropping with cash crops is highly profitable.

Advantage of Intercropping

Yield decreases as the crops differ in their competitive

abilities. Management of intercrop having different cultural

practices seems to be difficult task. Improved implements cannot be used efficiently. Higher amount of fertilizer or irrigation water cannot be

utilized properly as the component crops vary in their

response of these resources. Harvesting is difficult.

Disadvantage of Intercropping

TreatmentYield

(t/ha)

Cost of

cultivatio

n

Net return

(Rs/ha)

B:C

Ratio

Sweet potato(30:20:30 NPK kg / ha) 11.75 9315 20046 2.15

Sweet potato (60:40:60 NPK  kg/ ha) 15.50 10225 27527 2.70

Amorphophallus (40:30:40) NPK kg / ha) 25.50 47000 108001 2.29

Amorphophallus( 80:60:80 NPK kg / ha) 31.50 49000 140000 2.85

Callocasia (40:30:40 NPK kg / ha) 17.65 11225 41749 3.72

Callocasia( 80:60:80 NPK kg / ha) 19.95 12000 47833 3.99

Turmeric (40:30:40 NPK kg / ha) 13.35 11225 28750 2.55

Turmeric (80:60:80 NPK kg / ha)

14.85

12000

32583

 2.70

Table 1. Intercropping tuber crops in litchi orchard

Farmer used to intercrop elephant foot yam in banana orchard and get additional income.

Some farmers also grow elephant foot yam, green gram and maize in banana orchard. 

Banana based intercropping system

treatment Yield of intercrop(q/ha)

Yield of aonla (kg/tree)

Net return(/ ha) B:C

Aonla (alone) - 53.6 1,33,348 9.29

Aonla+ turmeric 227.1 61.6 4,36,766 5.92

Aonla + ginger 114.4 56.2 3,29,973 3.40

Aonla + Arbi 118.8 58.4 1,79,681 3.42

Aonla based intercropping system

a. A field experiment was conducted on aonla and ber grown with or without cowpea and sesamum in the kharif, and gram and Indian mustard in the rabi. The increase in income due to the intercrops ranged from 5111 to 9150 rupees/ha in aonla, and from 5695 to 14 954/ha in ber. Based on cost analysis, cowpea was found to be the most beneficial intercrop for aonla and ber (additional income of 91 501 and 14 954 rupees/ha, respectively).

Experimental results

b. Fruit yield of aonla was maximum when intercropped with legume and grass in 2:1 row ratio (6.42 t ha−1).

c. In the case of mango based cropping system, the mango plants attained the maximum height in the case of Mango + Guava + cowpea after 6 years of planting. The guava plants attained the maximum tree height (2.7 m) with Stylosanthes as intercrop after 4 years. The maximum yield of guava was obtained in the case of French bean as intercrop. Different crop combinations have shown significant effect on the soil characteristics.

In the case of aonla based cropping system, the maximum plant height of aonla was noticed under ground nut intercropping whereas guava plant attained the maximum height with ground nut and black gram. The maximum yield of guava was obtained in the case of paddy as intercrop in the fourth year in upland plateau of eastern India.

d. In North 24 Paraganas and Nadia District in West Bengal during 2007-2008, found that papaya based intercropping was accepted by the farmers due to secondary source of income from papaya. Vegetables such as chilli, brinjal, colocasia, elephant foot yam, bottle gourd and pumpkin as intercrops were observed in papaya field. From the results of survey from 20 orchards of papaya, it was clear that most of the farmers (about 79%) practised in papaya-chilli intercrops followed by papaya-brinjal in first year i.e. in early vegetative stage. The papaya plants are retained up to second year to get yield and the tall papaya plants (5-7 m height) are then used as pole for making suitable structure/mancha to raise bottle gourd.

Conti….

During second year, they planted pumpkin, colocasia and elephant foot yam in late fruiting phases. Comparative study of benefit cost ratio per hectare of sole (pure) crop (1.82) and papaya based intercrops (2.1) was also calculated on the basis of farmer’s observations. It was also found that the papaya plants were infested with mosaic virus when intercropped with chilli and brinjal.

e. Soyabeans, berseem and wheat were grown as intercrops in a peach orchard to determine their effects on the vegetative growth, quality of fruit and yield of peach. The highest shoot length (62.85 cm), maximum number of flowers per limb (10.22) and maximum number of fruit per limb (5.82) were found from soyabean interculture compared with 52.42 cm, 9.62 and 4.17 fruit set in controls, and 44.03 cm, 9.65 and 3.60 fruit set when intercropped with wheat. Maximum fruit drop per limb (1.35) was observed when grown with wheat, as compared to 1.02 in control. Mean fruit size was 6.21 cm in controls and highest (8.61 cm) when intercropped with soyabeans. Maximum yield (38.7 kg/tree) was observed in soyabean interculture followed by berseem intercropping (30.9 kg/tree) as compared with 15.25 kg/tree in controls and 10.04 kg/tree in wheat interculture.

Apple-soybean Intercropping

Intercropping of potato with Litchi

Intercropping vegetables between young citrus trees

Mango plantations in drought prone Barind areas intercropped with rice

Intercropping of foot yam and pomegranate in coconut garden

Elephant foot yam + Guava intercropping system

Lime, Guava and pumello intercropping system

Aonla based cropping system should be encouraged in Jammu region.

Phalsa can also be grown as an intercrop in the orchards of mango or other fruit crops particularly during the initial years. Guava + phalsa + ber had the best ameliorate effect on chemical properties of sodic soil.

Orchard which are nearer to cities or towns, better to grow

vegetables as intercrops

Intercrops should be selected that do not exhaust the nutrients

and moisture from soil.                         

For young orchards, vegetables which require abundant sun-light

can be selected. For old orchards shade loving crops are preferred.

Legumes are better choice for soil poor in nitrogen.

Vegetables that have their roots within 25 cm depth of soil

(tomato, onion, cauliflower, beans, radish).

Pest and disease problems are enhanced by growing two or more

crops together.

Factors to be taken while choosing intercrops

Take leguminous crops for cover cropping so that nitrogen

fixation in orchard is facilitated.Crops like sunhemp in light soils and Dhaincha in heavy soils

may be grown to protect orchard soil from erosion.Colocasia, ginger, and turmeric are heavy feeder and should be

grown with supplemental doses.Crops which are well adapted to climatic and soil conditions

should be selected. Exhaustive crops should be discouraged as an intercrop in the

orchard. e.g. Sugarcane, pigeonpea, maize etc.

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