Fundamentals of Horticulture (2+1)

Rotation

• Besides in young orchards when intercrops are takenup, some of the recommended rotations of intercrops are as under:
• Planting of different crops in a regular sequence on a given piece of land is referred as rotation.
• When this technique is used for soil management, it is necessary that sequence in the year or the rotation includes legume as one of the crops.
• Even in plantations of perennial fruit crops like papaya, banana, pineapple, after clearing of fields, these crops should be followed by leguminous green manure crop before planting them again.
• Choice of the legumes can be decided on the basis of climatic region.
• Generally sesbania, crotolaria, cluster- bean and cowpea, are preferred as they add higher quantities of organic matter and nitrogen.

Advantages

1. Helps in controlling insect pests and diseases.
2. Helps in equalization of available nutrients.
3. Avoids bad effects of continuous mono-culture through elimination of build up of toxins, diseases and pests.
4. Some of the recommendations are as under:

• Banana: Crotolaria or Sesbania or Cowpea.
• Papaya: Crotolaria or Cowpea.
• Pineapple: Sesbania or Glyricidia.

Citrus Orchard

• Cowpea / Moong / Urd/Cucurbits / Turnip / Cauliflower /Carrot / Radish /Pea

Mango Orchard

• Brinjal — Cowpea
• Tomato — Clusterbean
• Tomato — Cowpea—Soybean—Coriander
• Soybean — Pea — Cowpea — Palak — Chillies.

Banana Orchard

• Moong — Toria
• Cowpea — Radish
• Moong —Turmeric
• Ragi — Bean
• Groundnut — Bean

Guava Orchard

• Cowpea/ clusterbean/Blackgram/Greengram /French bean.

Litchi Orchard

• Cauliflower/Peas.
• Cucurbits / Greengram / Blackgram / Cowpea—Radish / Beat / Turnip / Carrot

Pomegranate Orchards

• Cowpea/Green gram — Beans/Peas/Tomato/Carrot/Onion/Radish
• Legumes should be included in rotation and crops like papaya, banana, pineapple and vegetables should be preferred for higher returns.