Elucidating the yield and quality response of Tagetes minuta L. intercropped with Zea mays L. under different spacing in the western Himalayas

Abstract

Abstract Intercropping is a sustainable strategy for increasing yield with better land use over time by proper utilization of resources. This work aims to study the effects of Zea mays L. (maize)/Tagetes minuta L. (tagetes/wild marigold) cropping systems with two spacings on yield, essential oil (EO) quality, and land equivalent ratio. A factorial randomized complete block design was used to perform the analysis with five cropping pattern of maize and wild marigold in ratio 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100 and two spacing viz., 60 and 90 cm. The findings showed that the single cropping pattern (14,291 kg ha−1) produced the maximum biomass yield of T. minuta, followed by 25:75 intercropping ratio of maize: tagetes (10,353 kg ha−1). The highest EO yield (37.57 kg ha−1) and equivalent yield (48.83 kg ha−1) of tagetes were obtained in the intercropping ratio of maize and tagetes of 25:75 and 50:50, respectively, with 60 cm spacing. Furthermore, the quality of EO increased dramatically in intercropping treatments, with the highest amounts of (Z)-β-ocimene found in the maize and tagetes ratio of 25:75 (43.66 %). The highest value of the land equivalent ratio (LER) was obtained in maize: tagetes (50:50) intercropping pattern with 90 cm spacing (1.22). According to our findings, intercropping wild marigold with maize will increase the quality of T. minuta EO while retaining tagetes yield with minimal efforts; thus, this approach can be regarded as a long-term sustainable management strategy.