Intercropping ginger with spacing and potassium response in young arecanut plantation

Field experiments to study the effect of different spacing (20 × 15 cm, 20 × 20 cm and 25 × 20 cm) and potassium levels (100, 150 and 200 kg/ha) on ginger cv. Gurubathan, intercropped in one-year-old arecanut cv. Monitnagar plantation and to the ultimate effect of intercrops on the growth of the main crops. The experiment was carried out at BCKV, Nadia. The data revealed that narrow spacing produced taller plants (90.13 cm), while widest spacing recorded higher number of tiller (15.04) and leaves (221.18). Among the potassium levels, the medium dose of potassium (150 kg/ha) was found better for maximum growth and yield attributes. The maximum weight of clump was recorded under medium spacing. The highest projected yield (13.69 t/ha) was recorded with the combination of closer spacing (20 cm x15 cm) with medium dose of potassium (150 kg/ha). The beneficial effects of intercrop on growth parameters of arecanut was also observed.