Sustainable cumin‐based agroecosystems through legume–medicinal intercropping: Productivity, economics, energy, carbon footprint

Intercropping is a promising strategy for enhancing productivity, profitability, and resource‐use efficiency in arid agroecosystems. A 3‐year field experiment (2017–2018 to 2019–2020) was conducted in the Western Dry Region of India to evaluate intercropping systems involving cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) with legumes, namely, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum‐graecum L.), as well as medicinal crops such as isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk.) and asaliya (Lepidium sativum L.), under different row proportions (4:2, 4:4, and 6:2). The objective was to assess yield performance, economic returns, energy efficiency, and carbon footprint for sustainable intensification. Yield attributes such as umbels per plant and test weight were unaffected by treatments, but umbellets per umbel and seeds per umbel varied significantly with crop combination and row ratio. Sole cumin had the highest seed yield, but cumin + chickpea (6:2) and cumin + fenugreek (6:2) produced comparable yields. All intercropping systems recorded land equivalent ratios >1.0. Cumin + isabgol (4:4) gave the highest net returns (₹65,764 ha − 1 ) and benefit–cost ratio (3.06), while cumin + asaliya (4:4) achieved maximum energy output (82,671 MJ ha − 1 ) and use efficiency (7.71). Fertilizer use contributed most to energy consumption and carbon emissions. Carbon efficiency was highest in cumin + isabgol (2.98). These results demonstrate that cumin intercropping with isabgol or asaliya in optimal row proportions enhances yield stability, economic profitability, and environmental sustainability compared to sole cropping. Adoption of such systems can improve farm income and reduce the carbon footprint of cumin‐based production under arid conditions.