Integrated farming systems improves climate resilience and productivity of rainfed mango (Mangifera indica) orchards

Over six years (2016-2022), field experiments were carried out at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research in Bengaluru to evaluate the effects of a system approach on moderating microclimate, enhancing productivity, and increasing profitability in rainfed mango orchards (Mangifera indica L.). The approach involved rainwater harvesting, intercropping, resource recycling, bund intensification with fodder resources and dairy. The results indicated that intercropping with protective irrigation using water stored in farm ponds helped in slight modification in the microclimate. Among various intercropping systems, mango + brinjal registered the highest system productivity (22,468 kg/ha), followed by mango + sweet corn (10,864 kg/ha) and mango + pigeonpea (7,068 kg/ha). Intercropping in rainfed mango orchards on an average yielded net returns of Rs. 1,73,000/ha, significantly higher than mono-cropped rainfed mango. Further, integrating two dairy cows with brinjal intercropping, recycling farmyard manure (FYM), and maintaining a vermicompost unit resulted in a mean net return of Rs. 4,96,000 /ha/year. Continuous intercropping in mango orchards effectively enhanced soil organic carbon and nitrogen levels. The results demonstrated the modifications in microclimate, improved system productivity, economic returns and sustainability of mango orchard through an integrated farming system.