OA01. 33. High-yielding, medicinal and multi-purpose chenopods (Chenopodium species) for multistorey cropping

PURPOSE: In an effort to develop crop ideotypes for multi-storey cropping under the conditions of eastern Uttar Pradesh, India, a few locally well-adapted chenopods (Chenopodium species) were examined for high yields and their compatibility with many other crops. A few genotypes were identified, selected and recommended as a sole crop as well as along with many other crops. The medicinal value of these chenopods in increasing haemoglobin content in anaemic patient was also evaluated. METHOD: Available chenopods were evaluated for yield and compatibility in a completely randomized design. About 200 grammes of fresh tender shoots were cooked and fed every day to an anaemic patient having his initial haemoglobin content at 5.2 units. RESULT: These chenopods produced 13125 to 22688 kgs/ha of edible grade biomass as a sole crop as well as in various crop combinations. The average land equivalent ratio for intercropping with Phaseolus vulgaris was 1.20 indicating 20 per cent yield advantage over sole cropping. These plants were also used as mulch, fuel-wood, walking sticks and live standards for pole type rajma and many other climber crops. After nine days feeding to the anaemic patient, the haemoglobin content increased from 5.2 to 10.0 units. CONCLUSION: High-density sowing/transplanting coupled with frequent uprooting/picking is trapping solar radiation very efficiently right from its early life stage. A concerted research effort would make it a successful industrial crop. These genotypes are high yielding, input responsive and amenable to scaling up for large scale cultivation. These chenopods are also amenable to the spirit of intensification in the sense that they are responding well to transplanting, spacing and canopy management. A temporally staggered sowing/transplanting, frequent picking/harvesting and high input and high density agriculture would generate a large amount of edible grade biomass that could be used as food, medicine, fodder and feed.