Current Advances in Agricultural Sciences(An International Journal)

An experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) seasons of 2004–07 at Khadakhar village of district Hamirpur (Uttar Pradesh) in four year old aonla (Emblica officinalis G.) orchard to assess the productivity and economics of agri-horti system and field crops, growth of aonla plant and soil fertility improvement. The field crops i.e. chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), mustard [Brassica juncea (L) Czernj. & Cosson] and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) were sown in inter-spacing of aonla as well as alone. Highest yield of aonla was recorded under aonla + chickpea, followed by aonla + mustard and lowest under aonla + wheat intercropping system, while the magnitude of reduction in the yield of intercrops was 18.5, 30.6 and 37.0% in chickpea, 21.7, 36.4 and 44.5% in mustard and 20.2, 34.8 and 41.4% in wheat over sole cropping during 2004–05, 2005–06 and 2006–07 i.e. fourth, fifth and sixth year age of aonla, respectively. Under agri-horti system, aonla + chickpea gave highest net returns and B: C ratio as compared to aonla + wheat and aonla + mustard up to two years of fruiting. Aonla based cropping system was less remunerative than sole cropping but during third year this gave higher returns. Highest plant height, collar diameter and fruit size of aonla was recorded in association with chickpea, followed by mustard and wheat. Status of organic carbon, phosphorus and potassium in soil was higher under agri-horti system compared to sole cropping. However, with in agri-horti system, the soil fertility status was better under aonla + chickpea than aonla + wheat and aonla + mustard system.