Productivity and Economic Evaluation of Guava (Psidium guajava L.)-Based Alternate Land Use System under Rainfed Conditions of North Saurashtra Agro-Climatic Zone
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/jefa.2026.21.2.26Keywords:
Guava-based intercropping, rainfed agriculture, economic returns, equivalent yieldAbstract
A field experiment was conducted at the Main Dry Farming Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural University, Targhadia, during kharif seasons from 2018–19 to 2022–23 to evaluate the productivity and economic viability of guava-based alternate land use systems under rainfed conditions of North Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with four replications comprising five treatments: guava + groundnut, guava + black gram, guava + sesame, guava + cowpea and sole guava. Results revealed that guava-based intercropping systems significantly influenced growth, productivity and profitability. Among the treatments, guava + groundnut recorded significantly the highest pooled guava fruit equivalent yield (8123 kg/ha), maximum fodder yield (3638 kg/ha), and superior economic returns with maximum net return Rs. 97,758 /ha and benefit–cost ratio 2.18. Land equivalent ratio (LER) values were greater than unity in all intercropping systems, indicating yield advantage over sole cropping, with maximum LER 1.76 observed under guava + cowpea. Sole guava recorded the lowest productivity and economic returns. The study indicated that intercropping groundnut in guava plantation is the most productive and economically viable system under rainfed conditions of North Saurashtra Agro Climatic Zone.
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