Effect of Intercropping on Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) with Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) for Insect-pest Incidence and Profit Maximization

Abstract: The experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2023-24 under terai agro-climatic region of West Bengal in randomized block design (RBD) consisting of seven treatments in three replications with different row ratio of chilli F1 Hybrid Eagle and marigold variety Tall Yellow. Maximum plant height (87.81 cm), plant spread (60.57 cm), fruit yield per plant (360.58 g) of chilli were observed in chilli and marigold row ratio of 2:1 (T2), while maximum number of primary branches (6.73), individual green fruit weight (3.41 g) in chilli were observed when the row ratio was 3:1 (T3). The highest green chilli yield of 10.02 t ha-1and chilli equivalent yield of 14.51 t ha-1 were recorded from sole chilli (T6) and sole marigold (T7), respectively. In case of marigold, maximum plant height (55.58 cm), number of flowers per plant (38.07), flower yield (373.42 g plant-1 and 12.7 t ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (3.04) were recorded in sole marigold treatment (T7). Among the different treatments, chilli intercropped with marigold at row ratio of 1:1 (T1) recorded lowest number of aphids per leaf (0.47 and 0.60 at 70 and 100 DAT, respectively), thrips per leaf (0.53 and 0.58 at 70 and 100 DAT, respectively) and fruit borer larvae per plant (0.33 and 0.47 at 70 and 100 DAT, respectively) that gave least fruit damage of 4.15%. Keywords: B:C ratio, Chilli, Insect pests, Intercropping, Marigold