Performance of different aonla based intercropping systems for marginal land in rainfed areas of Jharkhand (India)

Sustainability and profitability of framing systems, particularly of marginal and small holdings facing serious challenges due to the declining trend of per capita low availability and the shrinking size of operational holdings. Natural resources of the country are having more and more pressure due to the burgeoning population, which also requires more food, fodder, fuel, water, etc. A field study on standardization of sustainable and profitable alternate land use (Horti-agri) system for marginal land in rainfed areas of India was carried out at ZRS, Chianki (B.A.U., Ranchi, Jharkhand, India) to increase productivity and profitability of the marginal farmers during 2018 and 2019 in a well-established aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.; cv. NA-7) orchard under rainfed conditions. The results revealed that all the cropping sequences intercropped with aonla exhibited higher aonla equivalent yield and net returns over the sole cropping. The aonla- aerobic rice horti-agri system exhibited the highest aonla equivalent yield (9.6 t ha-1), and net return (Rupee 114000/- ha-1), followed by the aonla- black gram horti-agri system, which registered aonla equivalent yield of 8.3 t ha-1 and net return of Rupee 110000/- ha-1, and both horti-agri systems were statistically at par with each other. The study also revealed that the yield of aonla fruit was non-significant in all horti-agri systems. Thus, it is inferred that aonla- aerobic rice or aonla- black gram horti-agri system may be recommended for realizing higher productivity and net returns. The interspaces of the aonla orchard in the marginal land of rainfed areas could be utilized for growing various intercrops to generate substantial additional income without adverse effect on the productivity of the main crop.