2.3 Sapota and crop cultivation
One year old grafted plants of sapota (Manilkara zapota L.) of cultivar Kalipatti were planted at spacing of 8 x 8m. There were 27 plants in each plot. The recommended package and practices of sapota were implemented as per Amutha (2014). Castor (Ricinus communis ) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata ) were grown as intercrop with sapota at ratio of 1:2 under SCCBT treatment during monsoon season (Fig. 2d). This is dominating cropping pattern of the region was adopted with conventional tillage and agronomic practices. The crops and sapota were raised under rainfed situations during their growth periods.