Intercropping of tobacco with garlic produced the highest total (2292 kg/ha) and first grade (1256 kg/ha) cured leaves of tobacco. In the recommended dose of respective intercrops 75% produced total and first grade cured tobacco leaves compared to 100 per cent of the recommended dose. Tobacco quality was also influenced with nutrient management. Puckering and maturity scores did not impaired up to 50 per cent application of nutrients to intercrops. Among the intercrops garlic gave the highest economic yield (1.18 t/ha) over three years on the basis of monetary gain. The highest net return (Rs 47,948 / ha) and cost benefit ratio (1:1.78) was achieved under tobacco + garlic intercropping system. Nutrient supplied at 75 percent of recommended dose provided net return (Rs 45551/ ha) and cost benefit ratio (1:1.81) equivalent to 100 per cent of recommended doses. Soil fertility was either maintained or improved due to intercropping intervention in comparison to cultivating tobacco sole.
IntroductionTobacco (Nicotiana tobacum L.) is an important commercial crop which is traded for its quality leaves and quoted as golden leaf in the world market. India is one of the largest producer and exporter of tobacco in the world. Total tobacco production in India is about 700 million kilograms annually and the market's already worth a massive US $5 billion (Singh 2010). It contains several alkolids including nicotine which can be used in a variety of ways including medical and agricultural pest management. It can be grown under wide range of climatic and soil conditions which play a crucial role in Indian economy in general and Bihar in particular (Singh et al. 2000). Tobacco especially chewing type is a remunerative rabi cash crop of irrigated uplands of Bihar. Majority of (about 80%) tobacco growers/farmers fall under small and marginal capacity with land holding size of less than one hectare (Singh, 2010). With the improved crop management practices and availability of high yielding, short duration, photo-and thermoinsensitive varieties of different crops provides ample scope for experimenting with several crops combinations to develop tobacco based cropping systems to scale up the economic status of tobacco growers of Bihar State. To improve their income from tobacco field without compromising production and quality of main crop i.e. tobacco, intercrops possessing short canopy, able to provide competition free environment as well as having high market value are the important parameters for selection of intercrops. Garlic (Allium sativum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were the crops which by and large fit well in the yardsticks.
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