Yield and Economic Dynamics of Intercopping in Summer Vegetables

Research project entitled “Yield and economic dynamics of intercropping in summer vegetables ” was conducted at Horticultural Research Farm, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar (Pakistan) during 1999 and 2000. Summer vegetables were evaluated alone and in various combinations for their yield, land equivalent ratio and income in intercrop combinations. Each plot was 4x4 m whereas number of rows varied depending on kind of vegetables. Tomato was intercropped with okra, potato, corn, chili and eggplant. Vegetables showed more yield when grown as a single crop than their respective yields in intercropping except tomato grown in okra and corn. The maximum LER of 2.41 from intercropping of tomato with okra indicates that these two summer vegetables are the best companions and resulted in maximum income of Rs. 196393 ha due to maximum yield of tomato (27.61 t ha) compared to that of as a sole crop (20.34 t ha) and high market price of both vegetables. Tomato + corn combination, resulted second highest income of Rs 180700 due to high yields of tomato in intercropping and stability of corn yield in both years. The maximum income was also due to market price of tomato and corn. The least income (Rs.115506 ha) has been recorded from intercropping tomato with potato due to high reduction in yield of both vegetables and high cost of production.