Performance of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L) and Pigeon pea (Cajanus Cajan L.) Intercropping System under North Eastern Ghat Zone of Odisha, India

Abstract

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L) is a significant cash crop cultivated by tribal farmers of Odisha for their sustainanace. Despite favourable agro-climatic conditions, turmeric productivity lags considerably behind the national average, standing at 2.4t/ha compared to the national average of 5.1t/ha. Therefore, the present study was carried out during 2021-22 and 2022 -23 kharif seasons to evaluate the performance of the cropping system to find out suitable planting geometry and row proportions. The different treatments taken were viz.T1 -  Sole Turmeric, T2-  Sole Pigeon peaT3-  Turmeric + Pigeon pea ( 3:1) – one row of pigeon pea after three rows of turmeric (Additive )T4- Turmeric + Pigeon pea ( 5:1)- one row of pigeon pea after five rows of turmeric (Additive )T5- Turmeric + Pigeon pea ( 3:1) -one row of pigeon pea after three rows of turmeric (Replacement ) T6- Turmeric + Pigeon pea ( 5:1)- one row of pigeon pea after five rows of turmeric (Replacement ) T7- Turmeric + Pigeon pea ( 6:2)- Two rows of pigeon pea after six rows of turmeric (Replacement ) T8- Turmeric + Pigeon pea ( 10:2)- one row of pigeon pea after ten rows of turmeric (Replacement).-  Sole crop of turmeric fresh rhizome  (106.04 q/ha )and pigeon pea grain (14.07 q/ha )  produced the highest yield when compared with other intercropping systems.  Turmeric +Pigeon pea (10:2) geometry gave the highest net return and benefit cost ratio over another intercropping system.