INTER CROPPING IN MANGO

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 INTRODUCTION

 As mango 'trees take longer time to yield any profit to the grower. it is
desirable to supplement one's income by growing some short-term
crops till they are shaded by the trees.

 Such crops when taken in the orchard are called intercrops.

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 PRINCIPLES OF INTERCROPPING

• Intercrops should occupy a secondary

place in the orchard, primary

consideration being given to the perennial

fruit trees.

• The crops that may grow tall and have a

tendency towards excessive growth

should be discouraged.
Water requirements of the
• At least 120cm radius must be left from intercrops should as far as
the base of the growing fruit trees for possible coincides with the
taking intercrops. requirement of fruit trees.
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• Such intercrops should be selected that do not exhaust the nutrients

and moisture from the soil, so essential for the growth of fruit trees.

• Perennial or exhaustive crops should be discouraged as an

intercrop in the orchard.

• This may have devitalizing effect on the growing trees. For example,

sugarcane, pigeonpea, maize, jowar should invariably be excluded

from an intercropping programme in the orchard.

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 DIFFERENT INTERCROPS

• Vegetables that have their roots within 25cm depth of the soil are
considered good for intercropping.

• These are tomato, onion, cauliflower, beans, radish, palak etc.

• These vegetables can be taken profitably in a growing orchard by

appropriate application of nutrients to the soil and also maintaining
an optimum level of moisture.

• Among the annual crops, due consideration should be given to the

legumes such as pea, lentil, moth bean, black gram and green
gram.

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 FRUIT CROPS AS INTERCROPS

• Short-term and early bearing fruit crops as an intercrop, due

consideration is essential in the selection of a particular fruit.

• This is essential because the roots of such trees may start

competing with the roots of main fruit trees for nutrients and
moisture.

• The filler trees, unless removed at appropriate time when primary

fruit trees start giving economic crop, may create problems of low
orchard efficiency.

• Keeping this point in mind, it is apparent that wherever pineapple

and strawberry can be grown, these may serve as an ideal intercrop.

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• Wherever frost hazard is less, an intercrop of papaya can be taken
profitably in a mango orchard.

• Likewise, in the northern plains of India, 'Sharbati' peach can be an

excellent intercrop for mango orchard.

• Phalsa and guava could also be included in the early stages of

growth of the trees, provided these are maintained properly by
adequate pruning and removal at proper time.

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 OTHER CROPS

• During the first few years of their non- bearing life and until the trees
have grown to a big size, the vacant land in between the mango
trees can be profitably utilized for the cultivation of harmless types of
intercrops like fodders, farm crops, vegetables and pulses preferably
of leguminous type.

• Intercropping should always be judicious and needs of the trees

receive primary consideration, otherwise the practice may prove
extremely harmful.

• Intercropping helps to keep the weeds under check, which otherwise

would rob the orchard soil of plant nutrients and moisture.

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• While intercropping, the trees should be provide with suitably wide
basins and an independent irrigation system.

• They should also be given regular hoeings and weedings. When the
trees grow up to big size, as it usually happens after their 10-12
years of life.

• Then discontinue the intercropping as at that stage it would impair

with their normal growth and fruiting.

• In order to replenish the organic matter content of the soil, green

manuring with leguminous crops like guara, hemp and senji may be
carried out, depending upon the need of the soil.

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• Instead of intercropping, temporary quick growing fruit trees can be

grown as fillers which are removed when the mango trees assume

big size.

• Papaya, peach, plum, guava and phalsa are grown as fillers.

• Mango orchard provides an opportunity for utilizing the land space to

its maximum during initial years (up to 8-10 years) of establishment.

• Due to wider spacing and developing root patterns, the large

unutilized inter-space of about 60 to 70 % can be exploited for

growing inter and mixed crops successfully. S

• election of intercrops depends on agro climatic region, marketing

facilities, levels of inputs and other local considerations.

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• Leguminous crops like green gram, black gram, oilseeds like
sesame and groundnut and vegetables crops such as cabbage,
cauliflower, tomato, potato, brinjal, cucumber, pumpkin, bitter gourd,
bhendi, etc. and spices like chillies can be successfully grown as
intercrops.
• The partial shade loving crops like pineapple, ginger, turmeric, etc.
can be grown in fully grown orchards.
• In addition to field crops, some short duration, less exhaustive and
dwarf type inter-fillers like papaya, moringa, curry leaf, etc. can also
be grown till these do not interfere with the main mango crop.

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• Intercropping can be taken up till the mango trees attain suitable
height and develop canopy (at 5-6 years of age).
• In addition to field crops, some short duration , less exhaustive and
dwarf type inter- fillers like papaya, guava, peach, plum etc. can be
grown till these do not interfere with the main mango crop .
• It is advisable to take vegetable crops as inter crops for better
returns.
• Certain vegetables can be intercropped viz., onion, tomato, radish,
carrot, cabbage, peas, colocasia, ginger, turmeric, methi, palak,
amarnathus etc. besides fruit crops can also be grown viz., papaya,
phalsa, straw berry, pineapple etc. for initial 4-5 years.

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• Any short duration crop relevant to the specific location can be

selected.

• Some intercrops suitable include vegetables such as onion, tomato,

radish, carrot, cowpea, cluster bean, French bean, okra, amaranthus,

colocasia, spice like ginger, turmeric,methi, pulse like horse gram,

black gram and fruit crops such as papaya, pineapple, phalsa and

straw berry.

• Whatever be the crops selected intercrop and main crop must

receive separately their independent requirement of fertilizer and

irrigation.

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• Inter cropping result in increased humidity and vegetation in orchard
that may promote infestation of pest and diseases in greater intensity
than under clean cultivation.

• In general, an intercrop must be planted well away from the mango

plants and their requirements for moisture and nutrients must be met
separately and must not clash with those for mango.

• With the increasing age of mango plants, the area under intercrops
should be progressively decreased to avoid competition.

• One must vigilant to adopt timely and effective control measures

against pests and diseases affecting the intercrop.

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