International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2017, Volume : 5, Issue : 6
First page : (227) Last page : (233)
Article doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.6012

Productivity and Economics of Ashwagandh [Withania somnifers (L.)] under Different Intercropping with Pulses and Oilseeds

S. K. Ahirwar¹*, H. S. Kushwaha², K. K. Agrawal³ and R. Singh^4
1 Ph.D. Scholar, Faculty of Agriculture,
²Associate Professor (Agronomy), Faculty of Agriculture,
⁴Associate Professor, Faculty of Science and Environment,
Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramaodya Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot, Satna (MP) - 485 334, India
³Principal Scientist, Department of Agronomy, J. N. Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (MP) 482 004, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: sureshas.2007@rediffmail.com
Received: 10.10.2017  |  Revised: 23.11.2017   |  Accepted: 25.11.2017  

 ABSTRACT

The field experiment was conducted during kharif 2009 and 2011 at Research farm, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidhyalaya, Jabalpur (MP). The experimental soil was sandy loam with 7.5 pH, having 0.48 % low in organic carbon, available N (230 kg/ha), available P (13.80 kg/ha) and high in available K (371.70 kg/ha). The experiment field received 1471 and 1712 mm rainfall during two respective years. The experiment comprises 05 intercropping system (Ashwagandha + red gram, Ashwagandha + green gram, Ashwagandha + soybean, Ashwagandha + sesame and Ashwagandha + niger) with 02 row ratio (3:1 and 4:1) along with 01 sole ashwagandha and, all 11 treatments were tested in randomized block design with 04 replications.  The sole cropping of Ashwagandha produced significantly higher root yield (518 kg/ha), seed yield (86 kg/ha) and herbage yield (495 kg/ha) over intercropping system. Among the intercropping systems, Ashwagandha grown with the sesame gave the highest root yield (430 kg/ha), grain yield (69 kg/ha) and herbage yield (406 kg/ha) in Ashwagandha with sesame (4:1). The yield of associate crops was highest seed yield (988 kg/ha) and straw yield (918 kg/ha) in Ashwagandha + red gram (3:1). Ashwagandha equivalent yield was noted significantly maximum under ashwagandha + red gram (627 kg/ha) in 3:1 and 625 kg/ha in 4:1 row proportion. The higher cultivation costs (Rs 28110/ha) and gross monetary returns (Rs 156750/ha) was obtained in ashwagandha sole, but net monetary returns and benefit cost ratio were recorded in Ashwagandha + pigeon pea with 3:1 row ratio (Rs 129760/ha, 5.81) and Ashwagandha + pigeon pea with 4:1 row ratio (Rs 129037/ha, 5.74) and sole ashwagandha, (Rs 124140/ha, 5.42).

Key word: Ashwagandha, red gram, green gram, soybean, sesame, niger, intercropping system

Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782

Cite this article: Ahirwar, S.K., Kushwaha, H.S., Agrawal, K.K. and Singh, R., Productivity and Economics of Ashwagandh [Withania somnifers (L.)] under Different Intercropping with Pulses and Oilseeds, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.5(6): 227-233 (2017). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.6012