Intercropping Spinach and Red Amaranth With Brinjal Under Different Planting System

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Agronomy Research Field of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, during the rabi season of 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020 to find out the suitable crop combination of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and red amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) with brinjal (Solanum melongena) for higher brinjal equivalent yield, monetary advantage and maximize land utilization through intercropping system. Treatments were: T1 = 2 rows spinach (50%) in between two rows of brinjal (100%), T2 = 3 rows Spinach (75%) in between two rows of brinjal (100%), T3 = 2 rows red amaranth (50%) in between two rows of brinjal (100%), T4 = 3 rows red amaranth (75%) in between two rows of brinjal (100%), T5 = Sole brinjal ( 80 cm × 60 cm), T6 = Sole spinach (Line to line 20 cm) and T7 = Sole red amaranth (Line to line 20 cm) were used in the study. All the intercropping combinations showed better performance in terms of brinjal equivalent yield, gross return and benefit cost ratio (BCR) over sole crops. Among the intercropping combinations, 3 row spinach (75%) in between two rows of brinjal (100%) was the most feasible and profitable intercropping system in respect of brinjal equivalent yield (34.72 t ha-1), land equivalent ratio (1.57), gross return (Tk. 6,94,346 ha- 1), gross margin (Tk. 4,59,088 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (2.95). From the two years, results revealed that all intercropping treatments were productive as compared to sole treatments but 3 rows spinach (line to line 20 cm) 75% in between two rows of brinjal (80 cm × 60 cm) 100% intercropped combination might be agronomically feasible and economically profitable.

Bangladesh Agron. J. 2022, 25(1): 91-96