Cultural Practices 61
The systems consist of two main components, namely main crop and intercrop.
Papaya is efficient enough in providing higher economic returns even under unfa-
vourable conditions prevailing under the upland situations than other annual crops.
The approach aims at improving productivity by the effective utilisation of air space
that is not utilised in a single tier system. The multitier system aims at sustainable
management of natural resources like soil, water, space and environment. The spa-
tially differential root distribution of different component crops in the system helps
in higher nutrient and water use efficiency of the multitier system allowing feeder
roots of the component crops at different depths. Again, the increase in organic
carbon content by the soil due to decomposition of fallen leaves from the fruit trees
contribute towards enhanced biological activity in the system leading to environ-
mental stability in the rhizosphere (Solanki et al. 2013).
The crop rotations of leguminous crops after non-leguminous ones and shallow
rooted crops after deep-rooted ones are beneficial. No intercrops are taken after
the onset of flowering stage in papaya without efficient INM (Integrated Nutrient
Management). In the beginning, sufficient space is available in the orchard, and,
therefore, some crops can be taken up with the advantage. Resource degradation
leading to an unsustainable production system has demanded our attention for sus-
tainable practices to assure continued production. Intercropping of elephant foot
yam in papaya like in banana, coconut and other newly planted orchards gives
additional income to farmers. Traditionally, intercropping in interspaces of fruit
orchards is practiced due to economic consideration.
In this context, papaya-based agri-horticultural system has immense potential for
the betterment of poor farmers. Papaya orchards are planted at 1.8 × 1.8 m spacing
FIGURE 4.4 (See colour insert.) Position of sprouting buds in one-year-old pollard papaya
plant.