Ginger Integration in Maize Based Cropping System for Increased Income in the Hills of Nepal

A field experiment was conducted at Deurali, Palpa (1200 m asl) during 2004 rainy season to identify the appropriate plant population of maize for increased productivity of maize ginger, net economic return and land use efficiency due to integration of the above crops based cropping system in the hills. Maize was planted as double planting (double plants in a hill with 100x100 cm spacing), single planting (single plant in a hill with 100 x 50 cm spacing), normal planting (75 x 25 cm spacing) and ginger was cropped in between the maize rows at 30 x 30 cm spacing sole maize and sole ginger. The results of the experiment showed that the highest maize and ginger yield were obtained from sole planting system with an average of 6.15 and 41.13t/ha maize ginger and fresh ginger rhizomes respectively. the lowest net return of Rs 16,934/ha was obtained from sole maize planting. Among the intercropping systems. Maize double planting and ginger integration system produced significantly high net income of Rs. 535,426/ha with acceptable land equivalent ration (LER) (1.40). However, the highest net return of Rs 604,034/ ha was obtained from ginger as sole planting. Since maize is the staple food crop in the hill and it could not be ignored in the cropping system, maize double planting with ginger integration was found beneficial with significant high net profit compared to sole maize while ginger gave 12.81% more net profit compared to intercropping. the result of the experiment revealed that double planting of maize with ginger integration system would be profitable instead of sole maize but cultivation of ginger as sole crop has been found much profitable than intercropping in the mid-hills. In the hilly regions farmers generally grow maize and ginger separately. The concept of intercropping maize + ginger in a field enhances crop productivity per unit area. This information which is documented in the maize + ginger in a field enhances crop productivity per unit area. This information which is documented in the different social studies in western hills. Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 7, 2006