Effect of intercrops on plant growth, lac encrustation and lac yield in Flemingia semialata roxb

A field experiment was conducted for three years (2003–04 to 2005–06) to assess performance of vegetable intercrops on shoot length, lac encrustation (broodlac) length and sticklac yield of Flemingia semialata. Integration of vegetable crops with F. semialata showed significant increase in shoot length for lac insect settlement, lac encrustation length and sticklac yield over sole lac culture at both the planting patterns and vegetable crops schedules. During 2003–04 and 2005–06, the highest increase in sticklac was obtained at paired row planting with vegetable crops Schedule I by 36.38 and 140.85%, respectively, whereas in 2004–05 it was at single row with Schedule II by 62.48% as compared to sole lac culture with same plantation pattern.