Intercropping Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L.) with maize, oilseed rape and onion during rabi season

Abstract

A study was conducted at Ludhiana (Punjab) during rabi season to evaluate the performanceof Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis) as an intercrop with maize (Zea mays), oilseed rape (Brassicanapus) and onion (Allium cepa).  The fresh herb yield was highest (204.3 q ha-1) in sole Japanesemint treatment which was statistically on par with Japanese mint + one row of onion (192.4q ha-1).  Oil yield was highest in sole Japanese mint (163.1 l ha-1).  Japanese mint equivalentoil yield was highest in Japanese mint + one row of onion (273.0 l ha-1) which was on parwith Japanese mint + two rows of onion (265.6 l ha-1).  The gross returns were also highestin Japanese mint + one row of onion (Rs 65,520 ha-1).