Yield and yield attributes, system productivity and economics of mango (Mangifera indica)-based intercropping systems as influenced by mango cultivars and nutrient levels

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy, winter and summer seasons of 2011–12 and 2012–13 at New Delhi, to evaluate performance of 3 cropping systems, viz. cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] (for green pods)-Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj &Cosson], greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]-Indian mustard and blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]-Indian mustard, in intercropping association with 4 mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivars, viz. ‘Pusa Surya’, ‘Amrapali’, ‘Mallika’ and ‘Dashehari’ grown under 3 fertility levels, viz. control, 50% recommended dose (RD) of NPK through inorganic + 50% recommended dose (RD) of FYM and RD of NPK through inorganic + RD of FYM to mango. The experiment was carried out on 3-year-old existing mango orchard, planted with spacing of 6 m × 6 m. Before the commencement of study no intercrops were grown in the interspaces of mango. Stover of each intercrop was incorporated after harvesting/threshing along with natural incorporation of mango-litter-fall. Effect of mango cultivars were not significant on the yield and yield attributes of the rainy-season intercrops, viz. cowpea, greengram and blackgram. Application of 50% RDF + 50% RD of FYM to mango induced marked increase in yield and yield attributes of cowpea over the control during both the years except number of grains/pod and stover yield/ha during the first year, while in case of greengram and blackgram significant effect of this fertility level were observed only during the second year except 1, 000-seed of greengram. Indian mustard recorded statistically similar yield and yield attributes in association with different cultivars of mango during the first year, while during the second year siliquae/plant, seeds/siliqua and seed yield/ha were the highest with ‘Amarpali’ mango. Indian mustard showed marked variations after the rainy-season crops. On an average, increase in the seed yield of Indian mustard after cowpea was 3.14 and 8.80% when compared to yield recorded after greengram and blackgram respectively. System productivity of intercrops in terms of Indian mustard seed-equivalent yield, gross returns, net returns and benefit: cost ratio recorded significant variation due to effect of mango cultivars during the second year and the highest values of these parameters were recorded with ‘Amrapali’ and the lowest with ‘Mallika’ mango. Among the intercropping systems, cowpea-Indian mustard record significantly highest values of system productivity, gross returns, net returns and benefit: cost ratio during both the crop seasons, followed by greengram-Indian mustard. Recommended dose of organic and inorganic nutrients and their 50% revealed statistically similar values of system productivity and economics of intercrops but both were statistically superior to the control.