Boosting farm resilience: Integrating vegetables and spices in nutmeg and arecanut agroforestry

Experiments were conducted to develop a suitable intercropping model under a nutmeg and areca nut-based mixed farming system for higher productivity in the Thondamuthur region of Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. Coriander cv.CO4, Fenugreek cv.CO2, Okra hybrid Co 4, Cluster beans cv. MDU 1, Vegetable cowpea cv.PKM 1, Lablab (bush type) Co(Gb-16)) and Small onion cv.CO 4 was intercropped under 14-year-old Arecanut and 18-year-old Nutmeg trees. The design followed was RBD with three replications. Results revealed that the growth and yield of intercrops were reduced under intercropping compared to pure cropping. Among the intercrops, okra was the least affected, yielding 19.8t/ha, 7.78% lower than pure cropping. Coriander and fenugreek were the most affected. The yield of coriander and fenugreek was 0.43 and 0.47 t/ha, respectively 24.88% and 25.05% lower than pure cropping. The growth of nutmeg and areca nut trees were also influenced due to intercropping with vegetable cowpeas. The increment in DBH of nutmeg was maximum (0.52 cm) with vegetable cowpea intercropping and minimum (0.33 cm) with coriander intercropping. The increment in DBH of arecanut was maximum (0.42 cm) with vegetable cowpea intercropping and minimum (0.25 cm) with fenugreek intercropping. The B:C ratio was highest (2.17) under small onion intercropping. Small onion cultivation was successful under nutmeg and arecanut-based mixed farming systems.