Abstract
Java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt., Family: Poaceae) is a perennial, multiharvest aromatic grass, the shoot biomass of which, on steam distillation, yields an essential oil extensively used in fragrance and flavour industries. It has a long initial lag phase. To utilize the crop resources more efficiently during this lag phase, a field experiment was conducted for two years (1995-97) in semiarid tropical climate to explore the feasibility of intercropping food legumes and vegetables in Java citronella. Among food legumes, greengram (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilez.), and among vegetables, clusterbean (Cyamopsis psoraloides D. C., syn. Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and lady's finger (Abelmoschus esculentus Moench.) as intercrops did not decrease the biomass yield, essential oil yield of Java citronella and produced bonus yields of these crops over and above that of Java citronella. Maximum monetary returns were recorded by Java citronella intercropped with tomato or greengram. Java citronella intercropped with redgram (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.), horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verd. syn. Do/ichos biflorus Roxb.) and brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) suffered significant biomass and essential oil yield reductions. Horsegram proved to be the most competitive intercrop producing least yields and minimum monetary returns.
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