Productivity of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) based intercropping systems as influenced by different planting patterns and nutrients levels
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2017
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A field experiment entitled “Productivity of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) based intercropping systems as influenced by different planting patterns and nutrients levels” was conducted at Students’ Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during kharif 2015 and 2016. The soil of the experimental site was loamy sand, normal pH and electrical conductivity, low in organic carbon and available N, medium in available P and K. Two research experiments were conducted in two separate fields. In the first experiment, three intercrops viz. cowpea fodder, maize fodder and groundnut were intercropped with pigeonpea at 50 cm × 25 cm, 75 cm × 18.8 cm and 100 cm × 12.5 cm (1+1) planting patterns and were compared with sole pigeonpea in randomized block design. Different intercrops were also grown as sole in the experiment to calculate the different intercropping indices. In the second experiment, three intercrops viz. cowpea fodder, maize fodder and groundnut were intercropped with pigeonpea at 50 cm × 25 cm and 100 cm × 12.5 cm (1+1) planting patterns were kept in main plots and three different levels of recommended dose of nutrients (NPK) applied to intercrops (0, 50 and 100 %) in the sub plots. The results showed that growth, phenology, yield and yield attributes of pigeonpea were not significantly influenced by different intercropping systems and planting patterns. Among the the different intercropping systems and planting patterns, pigeonpea (50 cm × 25 cm) + maize fodder (1+1) was found to be significantly superior as compared to sole pigeonpea and other intercropping systems, because it recorded significantly higher pigeonpea equivalent yield and economic returns. Among different nutrient levels applied to intercrops, it was observed that with the application of full dose of nutrients to pigeonpea and 100% recommended dose to intercrops produced significantly higher pigeonpea equivalent yield and higher economic returns as compared to control and 50% of recommended dose.
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