Enhancing Yield and Water Productivity of Pre-bearing Mango Orchards through Intercropping

S. PRADHAN; P. PANIGRAHI; K.G.  MONDAL; S.K. AMBAST; S. PATRA

doi:10.54894/JISCAR.44.1.2026.171100

Authors

S. PRADHAN ICAR - Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar - 751 023, Odisha, India
P. PANIGRAHI ICAR - Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar - 751 023, Odisha, India
K.G. MONDAL ICAR - Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar - 751 023, Odisha, India
S.K. AMBAST ICAR - Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar - 751 023, Odisha, India
S. PATRA ICAR - Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar - 751 023, Odisha, India

https://doi.org/10.54894/JISCAR.44.1.2026.171100

Keywords:

Benefit: cost ratio, Drip irrigation, Paddy straw mulch, Papaya, Pineapple

Abstract

The extended juvenile phase of fruit crops, characterized by the interval between planting and fruit production, often limits income generation for small and medium - scale farmers. To identify suitable intercrops for enhancing productivity and profitability during the pre - bearing stage of mango, a field experiment was conducted during 2019 - 2020 at Bhubaneswar, India. The study evaluated three intercropping systems in a drip - irrigated mango (cv. Amrapali) orchard: (i) two rows of papaya (cv. Red Lady), (ii) two paired rows of pineapple (cv. Queen), and (iii) a combination of one row of papaya and one paired row of pineapple. Intercrops were grown on both sides of mango plants with and without paddy straw mulch under a randomized block design. Soil volumetric water content gradually declined from April to June and from December to March. Intercropping treatments did not significantly influence the vegetative growth of mango or the intercrops. However, the mango - pineapple system with straw mulch produced the highest pineapple equivalent yield (17.48 - 18.89 t ha^-1), water productivity (21.11-21.47 kg ha^-1 mm^-1), and energy output (56.53 GJ ha^-1). This treatment also generated the greatest economic returns, with net profits ranging from INR 1.40 to 3.85 lakh ha^-1 and a benefit: cost ratio of 1.67- 2.81. The findings suggest that pineapple - based intercropping combined with drip irrigation and straw mulching can substantially improve the productivity and profitability of young mango orchards, particularly in water - limited regions of eastern India.

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