Production potential and economics of crop sequences in Aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) based agri-horticultural system under rainfed conditions

The study was conducted on six year old Aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) cv. NA7 plantation from Kharif 2011 to Summer 2013 in two consecutive seasons to assess the suitable crop sequences to be grown as intercrops under rainfed aonla-based agrihorticultural system. The results revealed that seed yield of soybean in sole cropping sequences was significantly superior to the intercropping with aonla. The seed yield reduction in soybean with aonla over sole cropping was 25.00, 10.30 and 7.33% in aonla + soybean-wheat, aonla + soybean-gram and aonla + soybean-mustard, respectively. Similarly, the pigeon pea yield in sole cropping was higher than that of intercrop with aonla. The pigeon pea yield was reduced by 12.12% in aonla + pigeon pea-gram, 11.24% in aonla + pigeon pea-wheat, and 11.70% in aonla + pigeon pea-black gram as compared to their respective sole cropping. The wheat yield decreased by 21.21% in aonla + soybean-wheat and 14.40% in aonla + pigeon pea-wheat as compared to their respective sole cropping. The average decrease in seed yield of mustard in aonla + soybean-mustard over the soybean-mustard was of the order of 3.2%. The average decrease in seed yield of black gram in aonla + pigeon pea-black gram over the pigeon pea-black gram was of the order of 11.3%. Among the intercrop sequences, aonla intercropped with soybean-gram sequence recorded similar fruit yield. Various cropping sequences when intercropped with aonla resulted in an additional income. Aonla intercropped with soybean-mustard recorded the highest benefit: cost ratio of 4.02.