Suitability of tapioca and banana as inter crops in rubber holding as compared to those with leguminous cover crops in Kanyakumari district

Abstract

Cultivation of plantation crops by small growers is characterised by intercropping in main objective of intercropping is to maximise income from the limited extent of land . This is also true in case of rubber. The average holding size in Kerala or Tamil Nadu is less than 2 hectares. The growers will have to wait for at least 6.5 years to get income from rubber. For full canopy development rubber usually takes four years and interspace could be utilized for intercropping with remunerative crops during the initial three years. In this juncture selection of compatible intercrops, as subsidiary income source to the small growers is an accepted practice. In Kanyakumari District, the small growers usually adopt tapioca and banana as intercrop with rubber on extensive scale , without the knowledge how far it would affect the main crop in the long run . Very few small growers prefer planting leguminous cover crop in the very first year mainly due to the economical considerations. So the study was emanate to know the after effect of these intercrops on rubber during gestation period and thereafter. Growth of rubber plants as evaluated by girth recorded after four year of planting, was better in plots intercropped with banana, then those with tapioca, but it is far better in the case of area exclusively planted with leguminous cover crops. From the study it was revealed that planting of leguminous cover crops is more conductive to the growth of the rubber , and their yield performance , then either of the intercrops. Further it revealed that adoption of tapioca as intercrops had adverse influence up on the rate of growth and yield of rubber. In the case of banana as intercrops, it was found that it was not undesirable as tapioca, though lagging behind leguminous cover, in its advantage over the growth of rubber. So from the study it could be concluded that 1. The unit intercropped with tapioca seriously affect the rate of growth of rubber which in turn prolong gestation period and affected the yield of rubber . There is ample ground to predict nutrient depletion also during later period. 2. The units intercropped with banana shows a little influence over the rate of growth of the gestation period and also have limited adverse effect over yield performance. The nutrient depletion was not however very pronounced. 3. The unit intercropped with leguminous covers show better rate of growth during immaturity period, reduce gestation period to a considerable extent, increased the yield and enriched the organic carbon content of the soil. So it is concluded that it is advisable to establish leguminous covers in rubber plantation from the very beginning and if at all compelled on economical consideration, intercropping with banana is most ideal. However growth of compatible companion annual or perennial crops in the interspace of rubber is one of the feasible means to increase the farm level revenue and generate employment opportunities in small rubber growers holdings.