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Abstract
Intercropping is based on the principle of efficient utilization of both horizontal and vertical spaces available in fruit orchard. Intercropping in fruit orchard has many advantages including the generation of additional income,ensuring food security and preventing soil erosion through orchard floor covers. Mandarins, which have longer gestation period, are well suited for short duration intercrops and keep the orchard economically viable and feasible till the trees came to bearing stage. The Okra-French bean crop rotation has been reported as most economically viable intercropping system in six years old Kinnow orchard with gross income of Rs. 485304\ha andnet return of Rs. 388629\ha followed by Brinjal-Cauliflower crop rotation with gross income of Rs. 441365\ha and net return of Rs. 355190\ha. However, highest benefit: cost ratio was obtained from Brinjal-Cauliflower crop rotation (4.12:1) followed by Okra- French bean crop rotation (4.02:1) among all intercropping systems.Thus, intercropping short durational vegetable crops like Brinjal, Okra, Cauliflower, French beans, Radish and Spinach have been observed to be economical and profitable intercrops under Kinnow plantation.