Impact of intercropping of medicinal and aromatic plants with organic farming approach on resource use efficiency in arecanut (Areca catechu L.) plantation in India

▶ Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) can be successfully grown as intercrops in arecanut plantation with increased productivity and net income per unit area. Kernel equivalent yield of MAPs varied between 272 kg ha−1 in case of Piper longum to 1218 kg ha−1 in Cymbopogon flexuosus. Pooled data of 3 years indicated that Asparagus racemosus produced fresh root yield of 10,666 kg ha−1 of arecanut plantation and contributed to maximum kernel equivalent yield of 1524 kg ha−1 among all medicinal and aromatic plants. Intercropping of MAPs in arecanut was found economical. The net return per rupee investment was highest in C. flexuosus (4.25) followed by Bacopa monnieri (3.64), Ocimum basilicum (3.46) and Artemisia pallens (3.12). The total system productivity of arecanut + MAPs intercropping system varied from 2990 to 4144 kg ha−1. Arecanut + O. basilicum intercropping system registered significantly higher production efficiency 8.2 kg ha−1 day−1 than other systems. ▶ The study clearly indicated that arecanut plantation offers congenial conditions for intercropping of MAPs with improvement in resource use efficiency in terms of productivity and net return per unit area. The study also highlights that intensive cultivation of MAPs as understorey crops in arecanut plantation requires maintenance of soil organic carbon in laterite soils. Growing of MAPs as intercrops in arecanut plantation had complementary effect on base crop. Based on this 4-year study, farmers are advised to grow aromatic plants in large areas on a community basis to meet huge industrial demand and variety of medicinal crops in small areas based on local demand.