Effect of different intercrops on yield, quality and shelf-life in mango cv. Himsagar(Mangifera indica L)

Field experiments were conducted during the period 2010–2012 to investigate the suitability and profitably with different intercrops of cowpea, frenchbean, arhar, soyabean, lentil, blackgram and chickpea in mango orchard (cv. Himsagar) was conducted at Central Research Farm, Gayeshpur, B.C.K.V., Nadia, West Bengal. The age of the plant is 7 years old with a spacing of 10x10m which provide the utilization of land space between the plants as an intercrop. Pooled data reveals that the maximum number of fruits 192.41/tree and yield 46.09 kg/tree were found in Mango + Cowpea whereas maximum fruit weight (254.16 g) in Mango + Lentil. Most of the physical parameters such as fruit length and breadth maximum were recorded (8.20 cm and 7.21 cm respectively) in Mango + Cowpea. But, in case of peel weight (35.67 g) was highest in Mango + Soyabean whereas the higher stone weight (35.79 g) was in sole crop (Mango) only. Again, pulp weight and pulp: stone ratio (193.53 g and 5.80) were observed in Mango + Frenchbean respectively. The quality parameters such as TSS, reducing sugar, vitamin c, acidity and shelf-life showed non-significant variation among the different treatments.