On-farm study on intercropping of culinary coriander with carrot

Intercropping gives the opportunity to engage nature s principle of diversity on agricultural farms. Therefore, to evaluate the performance of carrot production in intercropping system and to increase land use efficiency, a field experiment on intercropping of coriander with carrot was undertaken at farmer’s field of Muktagacha, Mymensingh during rabi season of 2014- 2015. Three crop combinations viz., Carrot (100%) + Coriander (1 time cultivation), Carrot (100%) + Coriander (2 times cultivation) and Sole carrot (100%) were considered. Results revealed that sole carrot produced the highest yield (34.22t ha-1). Among the intercropping treatments, the highest carrot root yields (31.92 t ha-1) were obtained from carrot (100%) +Coriander (1 time cultivation). The lowest carrot yield (28.30 t ha-1) was recorded in carrot (100%) + Coriander (2 times cultivation). The highest carrot equivalent yield (37.00 t ha-1) was recorded in carrot (100%) + coriander (2 times cultivation). Though intercropping reduced carrot yield (7.21- 20.92%) but total productivity increased due to additional yield of coriander. Carrot (100%) + coriander (2 times cultivation) gave the highest gross return and gross margin (Tk. 740000 ha-1 and Tk. 595700 ha-1, respectively). Highest BCR (5.12) was also calculated from the same treatment. The lowest gross return and gross margin (Tk. 684400 ha-1, Tk. 543600 ha-1) and BCR (4.86) was recorded in sole cropping. Experimental findings revealed that coriander (2 times cultivation) might be suitable for intercropping with 100% carrot for higher productivity and economic return in the study areas.