Performance of mango (Mangifera indica) based agri-horticultural systems under rainfed plateau conditions of eastern India

Abstract

An attempt was made at ICAR RCER, Research Centre, Ranchi to analyse the plant growth behavior, productivity of different component crops, profitability, soil fertility status and carbon sequestration potential of 20 different agri horticultural systems during young bearing stage (6th to 10th year) of mango plants. The field trial was established during the year 1999-2000 to standardize suitable filler crop and intercrop combinations for mango based agri-horticultural systems under rainfed uplands of eastern plateau and hill region. The study indicated enhanced growth of mango and filler plants with paddy as intercrop. With respect to soil fertility, reduction in the content of available nitrogen and potassium was recorded after 10 years of planting particularly under Mango + Guava + Paddy agri-horticultural system. Among all the systems, the maximum cumulative Rice equivalent yield was recorded under Mango + Guava + French Bean. During all the five years, the significantly higher REY was recorded in case of Agri-horti systems with either guava as filler crop or French bean as intercrop.