Journal of Tree Sciences

The present investigation was carried out at the Regional Horticultural Research Station, ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during the year 2012–13 to study the feasibility of intercropping of tuber crops in sapota orchard. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with nine treatments viz., T₁ = sapota + cassava; T₂ = sapota + greater yam; T₃ = sapota + tannia; T₄ = sapota + turmeric; T₅ = control i.e. sole sapota; T₆ = sole cassava; T₇ = sole greater yam; T₈ = sole tannia; T₉ = sole turmeric. The sole crops of intercrops were grown outside the experimental plot. There was no significant effect of intercrops on the tree height, tree girth, canopy spread as well as yield of sapota. Comparatively higher sapota yield was recorded in association with turmeric as an intercrop (7.75 tha_-1) and least in association with intercrop of cassava (7.37 tha_-1). The highest sapota equivalent yield was recorded from the treatment of sapota with turmeric (67.39 tha_-1) which was followed by tannia (58 tha_-1). The lowest value was obtained from the treatment sapota alone (7.65 tha_-1). In view of the LER, significantly the highest value was recorded from intercropping with tannia (2.28) which was followed by turmeric (1.98), cassava (1.9) and greater yam (1.79) and significantly lowest from sole crops (1). From the economic point of view, highest net return per ha was obtained from intercrop turmeric (Rs. 4, 74, 451 ha_-1) followed by tannia (Rs. 4, 14, 744 ha_-1) and lowest from control sapota (Rs. 49, 074 ha_-1).