Effect of Monocropping and Intercropping of Vegetable-Flower Components on Production, Economics and Land Use Efficiency under Sub-Tropical Zone of West Bengal, India
Sourav Mondal *
Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia – 741 252, West Bengal, India.
Madhumita Mitra Sarkar
Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia – 741 252, West Bengal, India.
Tushar Ghosh
Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia – 741 252, West Bengal, India.
Tapan Kumar Maity
Department of Vegetable Science, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia – 741 252, West Bengal, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Intercropping is a common practice which allows for better resource use efficiency, increases yield stability as compared to monocropping. The present research work was conducted at Horticultural Research Station, Mondouri, Faculty of Horticulture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal, India from July-December, 2017. The experiment was laid out in Randomised Block Design (RBD) with five treatments and four replications. The treatments were as follows: T0 =cauliflower as monocrop, T1=cauliflower intercropped with marigold, T2= cauliflower intercropped with Balsam, T3= marigold monocrop, T4= balsam monocrop. When cauliflower intercropped with balsam (T2), cauliflower size and quality, balsam flower number and overall yield attributes were significantly increased. Land resource was properly utilized. So, cauliflower intercropped with balsam is the best treatment. This technique will help the marginal farmers for more profit.
Keywords: Monocropping, intercropping, cauliflower, balsam, marigold, yield