Exploring Turmeric Potential as Intercrop on Some Selected Vegetables for Sustainable Production Systems

Abstract

Intercropping is the growing of two or more crops simultaneously in the same field during a growing season, and are practical application of ecological principles such as diversity and crop interaction with the turmeric crop. Turmeric is a long-duration crop and a widely spaced row crop with having slow initial growth rate. The study aims to evaluate the growth and yield performance of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) under intercropping with five vegetable crops: okra, cluster bean, French bean, dolichos bean, and cowpea. The field experiment was conducted at the Horticulture farm, MARS, UAS, Raichur, Karnataka, India. The treatments consisted of 5 intercropping systems and one control (sole crop) with four replications in a randomized block design. The experimental data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis adopting Fisher’s method of analysis of variance asoutlined by Panse and Sukhatme (1985). The results revealed that turmeric intercropped with okra (T2) and cluster bean (T4) recorded significantly higher combined yields, indicating greater total productivity. These treatments also enhanced rhizome number and weight in turmeric, along with satisfactory yields of the respective intercrops. However, when turmeric yield alone was considered, the sole turmeric treatment produced the highest yield, outperforming all intercrop combinations, including turmeric + French bean, which recorded the best turmeric yield among the intercrops. These findings suggest that while intercropping with okra and cluster bean is beneficial for maximising overall system output, sole cropping of turmeric remains superior for achieving maximum turmeric yield.