Effect of Intercropping System of Vegetables on Yield and Economics of Arecanut Plantation

The on farm trials were conducted to study the effect of intercropping system of vegetables on yield, economics and soil fertility status of Arecanut plantation during the year from 2015-16 to 2016-17 at various villages in Tiptur taluk of Tumkur district, Karnataka state. The three intercropping systems involved viz., Treatment T1- Arecanut as mono-cropping (farmers practice), Treatment T2 - Arecanut intercrops with vegetable cowpea and Treatment T3- Arecanut intercrops with vegetable french bean conducted at seven farmers field as replication. The 26 year old Arecanut plantation of Gubbi local variety planted with 2.7 m x 2.7 m spacing. The result reveals that the two year mean data of experiments were recorded. The maximum chali yield of Arecanut was recorded (12.53 q/ha/year) in Arecanut plantation intercrops with vegetable french bean, which is on far with Arecanut plantation (12.25 q/ha/year) intercrops with vegetable cowpea. Whereas, significantly minimum chali yield of arecanut was obtained in Arecanut as mono-cropping system in farmers practice. The cultivation of Arecanut intercrops with vegetable french bean was obtained highest net annual income (Rs. 2,56,832/ha) and B:C ratio (2.85) with additional income of the farmers and high market demand of vegetable beans as compared to cultivation of Arecanut plantation intercrops with vegetable cowpea at Rs. 2,29,083/ha with B:C ratio of 2.72 with less demand of vegetable cowpea at market, whereas, cultivation of Arecanut as monocropping system was recorded lowest net annual income (Rs.1,45,290/ha) with B:C ratio (2.29) and no additional income from arecanut mono-cropping system practices in farmers field.

The soil samples were collected from arecanut plantation before initiated and after the experiment, analyzed the soil fertility status of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash availability, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) in soil. Soil pH and organic matter content of samples were slightly alkaline to neutral and low to high respectively. The soil fertility status of Arecanut plantation intercrops with vegetable French beans was recorded numerical improved (P<0.05) in all three major nutrients over the pre-treatment observation in the soil, which is on far with soil fertility status of Arecanut plantation intercrops with vegetable cowpea, whereas, soil fertility status of NPK were found to lowest in Arecanut as mono- cropping system as farmers practices. This might be due to incorporated residue of French bean and cowpea biomass into soil, which fixes atmospheric nitrogen as results in improved of soil fertility status. Arecanut plantation intercrops with vegetable french bean were recorded higher net returns and sustainability of the soil fertility by cultivating more suitable cropping system to enhanced income of farmers.