INTEGRATING BLACK CUMIN WITH GROUNDNUT IN THE SANGU RIVER BASIN OF BANDARBAN HILL DISTRICT

The experiment was conducted at the farmers’ field in the Sangu River basin under the On-Farm Research Division, BARI, Bandarban, during the rabi season of 2020-21 and 2021-22 to determine the suitability of incorporating black cumin at varying geometry under groundnut intercropping system. The treatments were T₁: sole groundnut (farmers’ practice), T₂: sole black cumin, T₃: one row of black cumin in between two normal rows of groundnut, and T₄: paired row of black cumin in between two normal rows of groundnut. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Between intercropped treatments, a double row of black cumin within two normal rows of groundnut (T₄) showed higher groundnut equivalent yield (3.79 t ha^-1), gross return (Tk. 219330 ha^-1), gross margin (Tk. 157145 ha^-1) and benefit-cost ratio (3.53) followed by T₃, with groundnut equivalent yield, gross return, gross margin and BCR of 3.40 t ha^-1, Tk. 201867 ha^-1, Tk. 141330 ha^-1 and 3.33, respectively, over the respective sole groundnut (2.82 t ha^-1, Tk. 171498 ha^-1, Tk. 113978 ha^-1 and 2.98 respectively). The lowest groundnut equivalent yield was obtained from sole black cumin (2.35 t ha^-1) with a lower gross margin of Tk. 82192 ha^-1. All competition functions to assess the efficacy of the intercropping system also justified the compatibility of black cumin with groundnut as a profitable practice in the Bandarban region.