Intercropping of Radish and Beetroot with Chilli under Prayagraj Agro-Climatic Conditions

Abstract

A field experiment entitled “Intercropping of Radish and Beetroot with Chilli under Prayagraj Agro-climatic conditions” was conducted from August, 2021 to February, 2022 at the Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and 12 treatments. The experiment consisted of six cropping combinations viz., sole chilli, sole radish, sole beetroot, chilli + radish, chilli+ beetroot, chilli + radish + beetroot. The highest yield (green chilli) was obtained from treatment T1 (sole chilli @ 100 % RDN) (13.09 t ha-1). Among the intercropping treatments, the highest chilli yield (12.62 t ha-1) was obtained from treatment T10 (chilli @ 50% RDN + radish @ 50% RDN) whereas the lowest (9.45 t ha-1) was found in treatment T6 (chilli @ 75% RDN + radish @ 12.5% RDN + beetroot @ 12.5% RDN). Intercropping reduced chilli yield but total chilli with intercrop yield increased over sole chilli due to the contribution of companion crops. The highest chilli along with intercrop yield (150.71 t ha-1), gross return (1101506 Rs. ha-1), net return (817969 Rs. ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (3.88) were obtained from treatment T12 (chilli @ 50% RDN + radish @ 25% RDN + beetroot @ 25% RDN). Considering the experimental findings, treatment T12 (chilli @ 50% RDN + radish @ 25% RDN + beetroot @ 25% RDN) found the most suitable combination for higher productivity and economic return under Prayagraj agro-climatic conditions.