Evaluation of economic and competitive indicators of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) intercropping with cucumber (Cucumis sativus) in Khuzestan province

Intercropping is one of the ways to achieve sustainability in agriculture. However, studying its economic and competitive indicators is critical to optimizing production. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the status and amount of consumption inputs in monoculture and intercropping systems in Khuzestan province. The required information was collected through a questionnaire and a field survey of 111 farmers. The results showed that intercropping with a land equivalent ratio of 1.40, gross and net production value of 7269.23 and 4090.19 dollars per hectare, and superiority in benefit-cost ratio, system productivity, and economic efficiency has a higher yield than okra monoculture. Also, the total cost of intercropping with 3179.04 dollars per hectare and input energy with 81269.27 megajoule per hectare were 23.20 and 3.18 % higher than monoculture, respectively. According to the results of this study, intercropping of okra and cucumber with superiority in economic and competitive indicators can be the optimal cultivation pattern of okra in Khuzestan province. However, it is necessary to optimize the intercropping input to reduce the total cost and input energy.