Performance and Profitability Study of Different Leafy Vegetables as Intercrops in Mango

Abstract

The study was conducted during rabi season (December to March) 2022 to 2024 at Dr. YSRHU-Mango Research Station, Nuzvid, Andhra Pradesh, India to investigate the compatibility and effectiveness of leafy vegetables as intercrops in mango orchard. Intercropping is one of the techniques of land utilization for optimum production which can provide substantial yield advantage compared with sole cropping. Mango is the most important fruit crop of India which is primarily characterized by monocropping, low-density planting and low productivity. The mango equivalent yield was found highest in mango+palak (6.52 t ha^-1) followed by mango+fenugreek (6.11 t ha^-1) and lowest was recorded in mango+amaranthus (4.22 t ha^-1). The Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) of intercropping with leafy vegetables in mango showed >1 indicating the better biological efficiency of the intercropping system. However, mango+palak recorded highest value (1.6) of land equivalent ratio (LER) while lowest value was recorded in mango+basalla (1.28). The monetary advantage index (MAI) values were positive for all the intercrops. However, mango+roselle had highest value of MAI (Rs. 134625.74) followed by mango+palak (Rs. 121706.88) while mango+amaranthus had lowest values (Rs. 61257.5). The highest net returns were obtained in mango+roselle cropping system (Rs. 248802) which was followed by mango+palak (Rs. 244898). Similarly highest benefit-cost ratio (2:1) was found in mago+roselle and mango+palak. These results indicated the definite yield advantage with Palak and roselle as intercrops in bearing mango orchard.