Papaya-mungbean intercropping: Effect of season and different row spacing on the growth and yield performance of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) intercrop to papaya (Carica papaya L.)

The study was conducted to determine the productivity of papaya-mungbean intercropping as influenced by season and row spacing, while the cropping system was evaluated using multiple cropping index and partial budget analysis. Papaya was intercropped at wet and dry season with mungbean planted at different row spacing of 1.0 m, 0.75 m, and 0.50 m. Significant difference between the wet and dry seasons’ effect in terms of plant height, pod length, number of pods per plant and total yield of mungbean intercropped to papaya was observed. However, when the three-row spacing was assessed individually, significant difference only on plant height and number of pods of mungbean intercropped to papaya was observed between the wet and dry seasons. However, significant difference on the growth and yield of mungbean intercropped to papaya was not detected using different row spacing regardless of season. The productivity of the intercropping was evaluated using Multiple Cropping Index (MCI), and partial budget analysis. The MCI value for wet and dry seasons was 169.44% indicating a 69% increase in land use. In terms of partial budget analysis, the row spacing that gave the highest income during wet season planting was 1.0 m, while during the dry season it was 0.5 m row spacing.