On-farm study on intercropping of culinary coriander with carrot

Abstract

Intercropping gives the opportunity to engage nature's principle of diversity on agricultural farms. Therefore, to evaluate the performance of carrot production in intercropping system and to increase land use efficiency, a field experiment on intercropping of coriander with carrot was undertaken at farmer’s field of Muktagacha, Mymensingh during rabi season of 2014- 2015. Three crop combinations viz., Carrot (100%) + Coriander (1 time cultivation), Carrot (100%) + Coriander (2 times cultivation) and Sole carrot (100%) were considered. Results revealed that sole carrot produced the highest yield (34.22t ha^-1). Among the intercropping treatments, the highest carrot root yields (31.92 t ha^-1) were obtained from carrot (100%) +Coriander (1 time cultivation). The lowest carrot yield (28.30 t ha^-1) was recorded in carrot (100%) + Coriander (2 times cultivation). The highest carrot equivalent yield (37.00 t ha-1) was recorded in carrot (100%) + coriander (2 times cultivation). Though intercropping reduced carrot yield (7.21- 20.92%) but total productivity increased due to additional yield of coriander. Carrot (100%) + coriander (2 times cultivation) gave the highest gross return and gross margin (Tk. 740000 ha^-1 and Tk. 595700 ha^-1, respectively). Highest BCR (5.12) was also calculated from the same treatment. The lowest gross return and gross margin (Tk. 684400 ha^-1, Tk. 543600 ha^-1) and BCR (4.86) was recorded in sole cropping. Experimental findings revealed that coriander (2 times cultivation) might be suitable for intercropping with 100% carrot for higher productivity and economic return in the study areas.