title: Intercropping of aromatic crop Pelargonium graveolens with Solanum tuberosum for better productivity and soil health.
abstract: Farmers in hilly regions experience low production potential and resource use efficiency due to low valued crops and poorsoil health. Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L.) is a vegetatively propagated initially slow growing, high value aromatic crop. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is also vegetatively propagated high demand cash crop. A field experiment was carried out in temperate climate to investigate the influence of geranium intercropping at different row strips (1:1 and 1:2) and plant density (60 x 45, 75 x 45 and 90 x 45 cm) with potato intercrop on biomass, oil yield, monetary advantage and soil quality parameters. The row spacing 60x45cm and row strip 1:1 was found to be superior and produced 92 t ha(-1) and 14 kg ha(-1) biomass and oil yield, respectively. The row strip 1:2 intercrop earned a maximum $2107, followed by $1862 with row strip 1:1 at 60 x 45 cm plant density. Significant variations were noticed in soil organic carbon (Corg), total N (Nt), available nutrients, soil microbial biomass (Cmic) and nitrogen (Nmic) content. Maximum improvement of Corg (41.0%) and Nt (27.5%)with row strip 1:1 at 75 x 45 cm plant density. While higher soil respiration rate, Cmic, Nmic, and qCO2 was found with 1:2 row strip at 60 x 45 plant density. The buildup of Corg and Cmic potato intercrop can promote long term sustainability on productivity and soil health.
authors.forename: Rajesh Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Vermal
authors.forename: Ajai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: Ram Swaroop
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Khushboo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D031316:Pelargonium / Q000502:physiology*; D012987:Soil; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil