Assessing citrus (lemon) based intercropping in the irrigated areas of northern plains of Haryana

On-farm experiment was conducted in the village Badarpursaid of Faridabad district in Haryana to assess the various intercrop combination in the lemon orchard during 2011 to 2014. The lemon variety Baramasi (Citrus limon) was planted in the area of 2,000 sq. m. in the year 2011. During rabi 2011 to rabi 2013–14, different crops like winter vegetables (cabbage and cauliflower), summer crops as muskmelon and fodder maize and kharif crops of maize (cob and fodder) and fodder sorghum were grown as intercrop in the orchard. The comparison was made in terms of net return from the system, crop productivity index and land equivalent ratio. Results showed that the best intercropping system was lemon + fodder maize – muskmelon - cauliflower. There was enhancement in land utilization, cropping intensity and farmers’ income.