ISHS Acta Horticulturae 735: I International Guava Symposium
GUAVA - A SUITABLE CROP FOR SECOND FLOOR IN MULTI-STORIED CROPPING SYSTEM IN UPLAND PLATEAU OF EASTERN INDIA |
| Authors: | V. Nath, B. Das, M.S. Yadav, S. Kumar, A.K. Sikka |
| Keywords: | mango, aonla, guava, intercrops, main crop, filler crop, soil properties |
| Abstract:
The Eastern part of India receives an average annual rainfall of 1000 to 1500 mm during monsoon. However, due to undulated topography in the upland, most of the rainwater is lost through surface run off resulting in to erosion of the top soil. The uplands are seldom utilized for production of agricultural crops. The climate of the region is suitable for production of different fruit crops in a pure or agri-horticulture system. To minimize risk, improve livelihood, ensure high returns from such uplands in this plateau region and to improve the soil characteristics, perennial fruit plant based multi-storied production system consisting of fruit trees having bigger canopy as main crop, dwarf stature fruit trees as filler and annual crops as intercrops have been found to be most promising technology for the region. Among the fruit crops, guava being dwarf, precocious bearing, wider adaptability and hardy in nature has been tried as filler crop in mango and aonla based multi-storied models. The State of Jharkhand is one of the leading States in guava production in Eastern India. To test the suitability of guava as filler crop in multi-storied cropping model, experiments were carried out at Horticulture and Agro forestry Research Programme (HARP), Ranchi, in mango and aonla based cropping systems during the years 1998-2004. Two different experiments were laid out during 1998. Mango cultivar Langra and aonla cultivar Kanchan were planted as main crop at a spacing of 10 m apart. Guava was planted as filler crop at 5 m apart between and within the rows after establishment of the main crop. Various intercrop combinations including leguminous vegetables/crops suitable for the region (Cowpea, French bean, black gram and ground nut), suitable grass species (Stylosanthes hamata, deenanath grass) and local staple food (upland paddy, finger millet) in different combinations were taken in the available inter space in each model. Observations on growth parameters of main and filler crop and yield of component crops were recorded using the standard methods during 2000-2004. Changes in available phosphorus, potassium, organic matter content and pH of soil were monitored. In the case of mango based cropping system, the mango plants attained the maximum height in the case of Mango + Guava + cowpea after 6 years of planting. The guava plants attained the maximum tree height (2.7 m) with Stylosanthes as intercrop after 4 years. The maximum yield of guava was obtained in the case of French bean as intercrop. Different crop combinations have shown significant effect on the soil characteristics. In the case of aonla based cropping system, the maximum plant height of aonla was noticed under ground nut intercropping whereas guava plant attained the maximum height with ground nut and black gram. The maximum yield of guava was obtained in the case of paddy as intercrop in the fourth year. The detailed data on plant growth, yield of mango, aonla, guava along with different intercrops and their influence on soil properties are presented in this paper. | |
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