Growth performance of herbal crops under three-tier agroforestry system

Investigations were done to find out the performance of herbal crops under sapota-jatropha-based three-tier agroforestry system at the agronomy farm of ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat during rainy season 2011 and 2012. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with six treatments and four replications. Three medicinal plants viz basil (Ocimum sanctum L), Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata Well) and mint (Mentha arvensis L) were selected for the present study. The observations viz plant height, number of branches/plant, crown spread (E-W and N-S), fresh and dry weight per plant and survival percentage were recorded at the end of experiment after planting. Intercropping of basil, Kalmegh and mint recorded higher plant height; the sole crops of basil, Kalmegh and mint recorded maximum number of branches per plant, crown spread (E-W and N-S) and survival percentage. The maximum fresh and dry weight per plant was recorded in sole crops as compared to intercrops. The trend remained same during both the years.