Evaluation of cabbage intercropped with seed spices on black clay soil

Due to depleting per capita land consistent stress on improving factor productivity has warranted many alternative cropping strategies. The effect of intercropping beetroot (Beta vulgaris, Cv. Datroit Dark Red), radish (Raphanus sativum, Cv. Japanese White), fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum, Cv. Pusa Early Bunching), coriander (Coriandrum sativum, Cv. Local), Spinach (Spinacia oleracea, Cv. Pusa Jyoti) and sorrel (Rumex acetosa, Cv. Local) on the growth, yield and quality of cabbage as main winter crop was tested in a black clay soil (Typic Haplustert), low in available nitrogen and optimum in available P and K under hot sub-humid tropical climate of Central India. Higher values for all the growth parameters of cabbage were recorded as a sole crop. Nevertheless, cabbage plus radish produced maximum net yield followed by cabbage plus spinach and cabbage plus coriander. No difference in total soluble solids was observed either when cabbage was taken alone (10.1° brix) or in combination with intercrops (9.0-10.0° brix). The study hence suggested the superiority of intercropped cabbage over sole crop