Effect of Intercropping on Soil Health and Yield Potential of Mango in Paradise Valley, East Kawlchaw, Saiha District of Mizoram, NE India

U. K. Sahoo

Abstract


The effect of different intercrops on soil nutrient status, yield of mango and its biological efficiency was studied, during 2008-2013, in 10 year-old mango orchards planted at 8m x 8m spacing, in Paradise valley, East Kalcho, Saiha district of Mizoram. The intercrops in mango orchard were ginger, French bean, paddy, turmeric, roselle and maize. The results indicate that the average fruit weight was significantly higher (P<0.005) in intercrops than the sole mango crop and the average fruit weight was maximum in mango+roselle+French bean followed by mango+cowpea. The number of fruits/tree varied from 68 to 130 in different treatments. The average mango yield was higher in the intercropping systems than sole mango crop; it varied between intercrops and years, ranging from 1.89 Mg/ha (mango + pineapple) to 4.84 Mg/ha (mango + roselle + French bean). Intercropping improved the soil health by enhancing available nitrogen at 0-15 cm depth by 17.53% (mango + turmeric) to 37.64% (Mango + roselle + French bean) compared to the sole mango. Intercropping also increased the available phosphorus and potassium contents both at 0-15 and 0-30 cm soil depths. The mean mango equivalent yield was highest (6.83 Mg ha-1) in Mango+pineapple followed by Mango+roselle+French bean (6.33 Mg ha-1), Mango+cowpea (6.08 Mg ha-1) to sole mango (1.78 Mg ha-1). The Land  Equivalent  Ratio was always higher in intercropping than the sole mango and it ranged from 2.06 (Mango+pineapple) to 3.53 (Mango+cowpea). Thus, intercropping not only improved soil nutrients but also resulted in higher yield of the fruit crop.

Keywords


Intercropping; Land Equivalent Ratio; Mango Equivalent; Soil Health

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