Economics of a coconut-based inter-cropping system as influenced by spacing and seed rhizome size of ginger

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of spacing and seed rhizome size on yield of ginger cv. Garubathan, grown as inter-crop in bearing coconut cv. East Coast Tall garden and to study the effect of intercrop on the economics of the cropping system model (coconut + lime + ginger + okra). Among the five different spacings (20 x 15 cm, 20 x 20 cm, 25 x 20 cm, 25 x 25 cm and 30 x 25 cm) and two rhizome size (15-20 and 25-30 g) of ginger, the closest spacing (20 x 15 cm) in combination with bigger seed rhizome (25-30 g) produced highest yield (15.39 kg/3 m(2)) : In case of okra and coconut the yield was 2.1 t/ha and 12,750 nuts/ha, respectively. The lime was in initial stage of bearing. Higher yield was recorded with 20 x 15 cm spacing due to increased plant population per unit area. Yield was proportionate to the size of the planting material. The maximum (Rs. 1,03,727/-) and minimum (Rs. 57,746/-) cost of cultivation were recorded in spacing 20 x 15 cm with rhizome size 25-30 g and spacing 30 x 25 cm with rhizome size 15-20 g, respectively. The maximum net return (Rs. 78,421/-) was realised from closest spacing with smaller seed rhizome. Planting with 25-30 g seed rhizome in 20 x 15 cm spacing may be recommended for ginger as inter-crop in coconut plantation for maximizing the yield.