Performance assessment of traditional flower crops intercropped with aonla(Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) and sapota (Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen)
Keywords:
Aonla, B:C ratio, flower crops, net returns, sapotaAbstract
To identify suitable flower crops as intercrop in aonla and sapota based cropping systems, four flower crops viz., marigold (var. Arka Bangara 2), China aster (var. Arka Kamini), chrysanthemum (var. Marigold) and gomphrena (var. AGS 5) were evaluated in interspaces of 12 years old aonla and sapota orchard planted at 6.5 m × 6.5 m and 7.5 m × 7.5 m, respectively, during two seasons of 2022-23 in randomized complete block design with 6 replications. Vegetative parameters like plant height, plant spread and number of branches per plant were recorded highest in gomphrena. In aonla orchard, the mean yield (t/ha) 30.67, 21.81, 13.05 and 17.77, respectively was recorded in marigold, China aster, chrysanthemum and gompgrena. The mean highest B:C ratio was obtained in chrysanthemum (1.77) with net returns of Rs. 340582.88 ha-1 followed by China aster (1.53), marigold (1.39) and gomphrena (1.36), whereas, lowest was recorded in aonla (1.15). In sapota, mean yield (t/ha) 12.21, 18.69, 6.53 and 14.30, respectively, was recorded in marigold, China aster, chrysanthemum and gomphrena. The mean B:C ratio was recorded highest in chrysanthemum (1.14) with net returns of Rs. 224532.99 ha-1 followed by China aster (0.94), gomphrena (0.90) and sapota (0.67) while, B:C ratio lowest was recorded in marigold (0.47). The study indicated the suitability and probability of chrysanthemum, China aster, marigold and gomphrena in aonla and sapota orchard, as inter crop.
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Copyright (c) 2026 J Pattanashetty, A Taj, G S K Swamy, P M Munikrishnappa, R L Raghunatha Reddy, B Doddabasappa (Author)
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