Feasibility of Growing Fruit Crops in the Floor of Closed Spaced Teak Plantation (Tectona grandis) in Rainfed Laterite Soil

摘要

With the view to utilize the available natural resources in teak plantation, an investigation was made to find out the best one or ones suitable fruit crops. The experiment was designed with randomized block design having three replications. The treatment included as growing of fruit crops viz. Guava, Gandharaj lemon. Hybrid Pad lime, Papaya (as green), Kagzilime, Carambola, Karonda, Custard apple, Aonla, Green banana (Kancha Kela), Pineapple, Pummelo and Ber. The teak plans were planted at 3 m x 3 mapart while fruits crops were grown at 5 meter spacing in a line between the rows of teak plants. The results of 5 years of intensive investigation reveled that banana and pineapple plants were found to unsuitable in the teak plantation as they were either died or not fruited during course of the investigation. Again pummelo, ber, aonla, custard apple and karonda were also found unsuitable as no flowering was observed. The best compatible fruit crop was carambola which produced good quality fruits andestimated to have revenue of Rs 38,700 per hectare of teak plantation followed byHybrid Pati lime which also produced good quality fruits with estimated to have Rs 28,800 per hectare.