| This research offered the main theme for pepper and garlic based intercropping modelsand to study its crop biological and soil ecological impact on continuous growing of pepperunder plastic tunnel by both field experiment and pot experiment. In field experimentdesigned in RCBD factor with three replications, two intercropping models were used inwhich pepper were intercropped in standing normal garlic (NG, sowing clove of Cv. G026forharvesting of scape and bulb) and green garlic (GG, sowing bulb of Cv. G064for harvestingof green garlic), respectively taking the monoculture of pepper as the control.In pot differentamount of green garlic were intercropped with one pepper to see its impact on crop biologyand soil ecology. The results and conclusion are as follow:1. During the first year (2011-2012) it was judged that plant height, stem diameter, leaflength and leaf width were significantly affected by intercropping and recorded higher innormal garlic. Results showed that number of flowers of pepper was not significantly effected(p<0.05) among different treatments and recorded at improved level in pepper intercroppedwith green garlic, while number of fruits and yield were also not significantly affected andrecorded higher in control. Normal garlic intercropping (NG) were evaluated as a greater netbenefit system as compared to monoculture cultivation. However, during2ndyear (2012-2013)green garlic intercropping (GG) showed significant effect on the growth of pepper such asheight of plant, stem diameter, leaf length and leaf width, while number of flower, number offruits and yield were not significantly affected by intercropping and recorded higher in control.The NG again showed higher economic benefit this year.2. During first year2011-2012physico-chemical analysis of pepper intercropped withnormal garlic and green garlic were compared to mono-culture cultivation of pepper. Resultsshowed that chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content was significantly enhanced (p<0.05)in the pepper intercropped with normal garlic, while chlorophyll b of pepper was significantlyenhanced (p<0.05) in the pepper intercropped with green garlic. Additionally, pepper plantsintercropped with normal garlic were recorded with a higher (P<0.05) net photosynthetic rateand Catalase activity (CAT). Peroxidase (POD) initially increases in early stages of plant growth with higher levels in young plants but decreases as plant grows older and also higherlevel of peroxidase (POD) was observed in green garlic. Polyphenol oxide (PPO) enzymeactivities were inhibited by intercropping with high level of (PPO) activity observed in mono-cropping cultivation of pepper. Additionally, pepper plants intercropped with green garlicwere recorded with a higher (P<0.05) vitamin C, protein content and total soluble sugar, whiledry matter was higher in treatment intercropped with normal garlic. During second year2012-2013chlorophyll a and b and total chlorophyll, fruit quality parameters such as dry matter,vitamin C and protein were significantly improved by NG intercropping, while plant enzymes(CAT, POD and PPO) and total sugar in pepper fruit were significantly enhanced in pepperintercropped with GG.During2011-2012results indicated that NG intercropping had good significant impacton bacterial population and total microbial activity, while actinomycetes were significantlyimproved in plot intercropped with GG. Populations of fungi were significantly decreased inGG intercropped plot. Intercropping of GG significantly improved the activities of invertase,alkaline phosphatase and catalase, while urease was promisingly higher in plot intercroppedwith NG. The soil nutrients such as available and total nitrogen, phosphorous and potassiumwere increased significantly in plot intercropped with NG (normal garlic intercropping). SoilOrganic matter (SOM) was also increased significantly in plot intercropped with NG (normalgarlic intercropping). Soil EC affected by intercropping and decreased after intercropping. Insecond year Populations of bacteria, actinomycetes and total microbial activities weresignificantly affected by GG, while number of fungi strongly inhibited by NG. The soilenzyme activities during second year such as invertase and catalase were significantlyenhanced by GG, while alkaline phosphatase and urease increased by NG. Soil chemicalproperties during second year (available and Total N, P, available K and SOM) weresignificantly improved in NG, while total K in GG. During year2012-2013the soil pH ofintercropped plots were also increased after intercropping, while EC decreased.3. A pot experiment was also conducted during2012to see the impact of green garlic(GG) amount on morphological of pepper and soil biochemical properties under plastic tunnel.Different number of GG bulbs i.e.0,8,16and24were used in intercropping with one pepperplant. The plant height and stem diameter were positively affected by GG and pepper basedintercropping and were found at increasing level in pot with eight garlic bulb and16garlicbulbs respectively. Leaf length and leaf diameter were significantly increased in pot with24garlic bulb, while yield was enhanced in pot having one pepper with16garlic bulbs. Thephysico-chemical analysis of pot culture pepper intercropped with GG was also carried out forcomparison to control. The results showed that chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll, plant enzymes (CAT and PPO) were observed at significant level in pot having one pepper with16garlic bulbs, while POD activity and net photosynthetic rate were positively affected in pothaving one pepper with24garlic bulbs. Fruit quality parameters such as protein and totalsugar were significantly affected in pot having one pepper with24garlic bulbs, while drymatter and vitamin C were judged at enhanced level in pot having one pepper with16garlicbulbs and24garlic bulbs respectively. Soil microbial populations such as bacteria andactionomycetes were improved significantly in pot having one pepper with16garlic bulbs,while number of bacteria and TMA in pot with24garlic bulbs. The fungi populations wereinhibited by GG and found at low level in pot with16garlic bulbs. Soil enzyme activities(Invertase, alkaline phosphatase, urease and catalase) and soil chemical properties (availableand Total N, available K and organic matter) were significantly enhanced in pot with24garlicbulbs, while total k was observed at higher level in pot with16garlic bulbs. The soil pH wassignificantly enhanced in intercropped treatment after GG intercropping, while EC showeddownward trend. From this study it is concluded that pepper and NG based intercropping hadgood biological and ecological impact on morophological, properties of pepper, soilbiochemical properties,increase the income per land unit area and in term of pot experimentone pepper with24garlic bulbs was observed the best treatment for green garlic and pepperbased intercropping on morphological, physico chemical properties of pepper and soilbiochemical properties for future implementation of pepper and GG based intercropping inmodern agriculture.Consequently, pepper intercropping with garlic continuously can improve the populationof microorganism and soil nutrient, enhance soil enzyme activity and fruit quality of pepper,reduce the continuous cropping obstacle of pepper cultivation, and increase the unit areaincome at the same time. |
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