Studies on Intercrop Cultivation with Sugarcane in South Gujarat Region

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted on heavy black soils during the years 1979-80 and 1980-81 at the Regional Sugarcane Research Station, Navsari, on intercropping with sugarcane. The intercrops tried were onion, garlic, chillies, cabbage, fenugreek, gram, and groundnut, which did not affect the yield of sugarcane significantly. Among all the treatments, sugarcane with onion gave the highest additional net profit of Rs. 2764/- per hectare, followed by sugarcane + chillies (Rs. 2606/ha), sugarcane + garlic (Rs. 1261/ha), and sugarcane + groundnut (Rs. 297/ha). Sugarcane with cabbage, gram, and fenugreek gave 1943/-, 921/-, and 894/- net loss, respectively, compared to sugarcane alone. This indicated the suitability of onion, chillies, and garlic as suitable intercrops with sugarcane in the heavy black soils of the South Gujarat Region.