INTEGRATING BLACK CUMIN WITH GROUNDNUT IN THE SANGU RIVER BASIN OF BANDARBAN HILL DISTRICT

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the farmers’ field in the Sangu River basin under the On-Farm Research Division, BARI, Bandarban, during the rabi season of 2020-21 and 2021-22 to determine the suitability of incorporating black cumin at varying geometry under groundnut intercropping system. The treatments were T1: sole groundnut (farmers’ practice), T2: sole black cumin, T3: one row of black cumin in between two normal rows of groundnut, and T4: paired row of black cumin in between two normal rows of groundnut. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Between intercropped treatments, a double row of black cumin within two normal rows of groundnut (T4) showed higher groundnut equivalent yield (3.79 t ha-1), gross return (Tk. 219330 ha-1), gross margin (Tk. 157145 ha-1) and benefit-cost ratio (3.53) followed by T3, with groundnut equivalent yield, gross return, gross margin and BCR of 3.40 t ha-1, Tk. 201867 ha-1, Tk. 141330 ha-1 and 3.33, respectively, over the respective sole groundnut (2.82 t ha-1, Tk. 171498 ha-1, Tk. 113978 ha-1 and 2.98 respectively). The lowest groundnut equivalent yield was obtained from sole black cumin (2.35 t ha-1) with a lower gross margin of Tk. 82192 ha-1. All competition functions to assess the efficacy of the intercropping system also justified the compatibility of black cumin with groundnut as a profitable practice in the Bandarban region.