Impact of intercropping on yield, fruit quality and economics of young Kinnow mandarin plants

Abstract

Intercropping practices in orchard not only generate an extra income but the practice also helps to check the soil erosion through ground coverage and improves the physico-chemical properties of the soil.. The effect of intercrops on vegetative performance and quality of 5 years old Kinnow mandarins raised on Rough Lemon rootstocks at 6x6m spacing was studied at RRS, Bathinda during the year 2011-12 and 2012-13. An intercropping experiment comprising of seven treatments such as T1: guara (Summer) + wheat (winter), T2: guara (summer) + barley (winter), T3: guara (summer) + fenugreek (winter), T4: moong (summer) + wheat (winter), T5: moong (summer) + barley (winter), T6: moong (summer) + fenugreek (winter) and T7: control (fallow: no intercrop) was laid out in Randomized Block Design with four replications to assess the effect of various intercrops on the performance of Kinnow in arid irrigated region of Bathinda, Punjab. The results of the study revealed that guar + wheat intercropping system exhibited better performance which has been reflected in the form of plant height (3.31 cm), gross income (Rs. 41180/-), fruit number (175) and Total Soluble Solids(TSS) per cent (10.8) of Kinnow fruit. The work concludes that intercropping in Kinnow mandarin helps to improve yield, fruit quality and economic aspect.