Abstract:
An intercropping experiment was conducted with varying
combinations of turmeric and mung bean to find out the
efficacy of productivity and economic return through
competition functions. Treatments were evaluated on the basis
of several competition functions, such as land equivalent ratio
(LER), aggressiveness, competitive ratio (CR), monetary
advantage index (MAI) and system productivity index (SPI).
Results showed that rhizome yields of turmeric were higher in
intercropping system than in mono crop. It indicated that
intercropping of mung bean did not affect the rhizome yield of
turmeric. However, turmeric (100 %) + 3 row mung bean
(100 %) in between turmeric lines intercropping system
exhibited maximum yield of both the crops as well as turmeric
equivalent yield, LER, competitive indices values, SPI and
MAI (Tk. 2,44,734.46 ha-1
) compared to the other
intercropping combinations and the mono crops.
Aggressiveness of intercrop indicated dominance of turmeric
over mung bean in all the combinations except turmeric
(100 %) + 1 row mung bean (33 %). Competition functions of
intercroping suggested beneficial association of turmeric and
mung bean crops. The study revealed that mung bean could be
introduced as intercrop with turmeric without hampering
rhizome yield with higher benefit additionally increasing
mung bean production area.
