Legume Research

  • Chief EditorJ. S. Sandhu

  • Print ISSN 0250-5371

  • Online ISSN 0976-0571

  • NAAS Rating 6.80

  • SJR 0.391

  • Impact Factor 0.8 (2024)

Frequency :
Monthly (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December)
Indexing Services :
BIOSIS Preview, ISI Citation Index, Biological Abstracts, Elsevier (Scopus and Embase), AGRICOLA, Google Scholar, CrossRef, CAB Abstracting Journals, Chemical Abstracts, Indian Science Abstracts, EBSCO Indexing Services, Index Copernicus
Submit

Research Article

Legume Research, volume 44 issue 8 (august 2021) : 947-951

Production Potential of Pigeon Pea Based Intercropping Systems under Various Land Configurations in Marathwada Region of Maharashtra

H.S. Garud1,*, B.V. Asewar1, A.A. Chavan1, D.N. Gokhale1, W.N. Narkhede1
1Department of Agronomy, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani-431402, Maharashtra, India.

  • Submitted17-04-2020|

  • Accepted10-07-2020|

  • First Online 10-09-2020|

  • doi 10.18805/LR-4398

Cite article:- Garud H.S., Asewar B.V., Chavan A.A., Gokhale D.N., Narkhede W.N. (2021). Production Potential of Pigeon Pea Based Intercropping Systems under Various Land Configurations in Marathwada Region of Maharashtra . Legume Research. 44(8): 947-951. doi: 10.18805/LR-4398.

ABSTRACT

Backround: Pigeon pea is suitable for intercropping with different crops like soybean, green gram, black gram and cowpea for increasing production, proper land utilization and maintaining soil fertility. The initial slow growth rate and deep root system of pigeon pea offers a good scope for intercropping with fast growing early maturing and shallow rooted crops. Abiotic stresses of dry land farming can be alleviated by effective moisture conservation practices. Considering these points an experiment was conducted to evaluate comparative performance of the pigeon pea based intercropping system with short durational legumes like soybean, green gram, black gram and cowpea under different land configurations.

Methods: A field experiment was conducted at experimental farm of AICRP for Dryland Agriculture, V.N.M.KV, Parbhani during kharif season of 2015-16 and 2016-17 to study the production potential of pigeon pea based intercropping systems under various land configurations. The present investigation consisted of 12 treatment combinations comprising of three land configurations in main plot and four intercropping systems in sub plots.

Result: Yield attributes and yield of intercrops was influenced significantly by different land configurations. In case of intercrops mean seed yield, mean number of pods plant-1, weight of pods plant-1, weight of seed plant-1, number seeds pod-1 and number of seeds plant-1 found to be higher in broad bed furrow than ridges furrow and flatbed method. Similarly, higher seed yield, straw yield, biological yield, harvest index of pigeon pea and pigeon pea equivalent yield was recorded with Broad bed furrows followed ridges and furrow system. Among the intercropping systems, pigeon pea + green gram intercropping systems recorded maximum seed yield, straw yield, biological yield, harvest index of pigeon pea and pigeon pea equivalent yield than other intercropping systems. 

INTRODUCTION

Pulses are an integral part of cropping system all over the country. Pulses are considered as lifeblood of agriculture because they occupy a unique position in every known system of farming as a main, catch, cover, green manure, intercrop, relay and mixed crop. United Nations Organization (UNO) has also declared 2016 as International Year of Pulses to increase the overall productivity of pulses around the globe. They are valued for protein rich food, feed and fodder and therefore have been rightly described as unique jewels of Indian crop husbandry (Swaminathan,1981). The area under pigeon pea during 2016-17 was 3.86 million hectares with production of 2.90 million tonnes and average productivity of 751 kg ha-1. In Maharashtra the area under pigeon pea was 1.53 million hectares with production of 1.17 million tonnes and average productivity of 764 kg ha-1 and in Marathwada the area is 5.3 lakh hectares with production of 1.3 lakh tonnes (Anonymous, 2016). When pigeon pea is grown as a sole crop, it is relatively inefficient because of its slow initial growth rate and low harvest index (Willey, 1980); therefore it is grown as intercrop, which helps in efficient utilization of available resources for enhancing the productivity and profitability besides the benefits of suppressing weed and spreading the risk involved (Sarma et al., 1995). Pigeon pea is suitable for intercropping with different crops like soybean, green gram, black gram and cowpea for increasing production, proper land utilization and maintaining soil fertility. The initial slow growth rate and deep root system of pigeon pea offers a good scope for intercropping with fast growing early maturing and shallow rooted crops (Ramamoorthy et al., 2004). Abiotic stresses of dry land farming can be alleviated by effective moisture conservation practices. Considering these points an experiment was conducted to evaluate comparative performance of the pigeon pea based intercropping system with short durational legumes like soybean, green gram, black gram and cowpea under different land configurations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The field experiments were conducted at research farm of All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani during kharif seasons of 2015-16 and 2016-17. The soil was medium deep black with low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in available potassium. The experiment was laid out in split plot design and replicated thrice. The present investigation consisted of 12 treatment combinations comprising of three land configurations in main plot and four intercropping systems in sub plots. The main plot treatments comprised of three land configurations, L1- Broad bed furrow (BBF), L2- Ridges and furrow, L3 - Flat bed method while the sub plot comprised of  four intercropping systems viz. I1- Pigeon pea + Soybean, I2- Pigeon pea + Green gram , I3- Pigeon pea + Black gram , I4- Pigeon pea + Cowpea in 2:1 row proportion. During first year 2015, onset of monsoon started from 23rd standard meteorological week and continued up to 40th standard meteorological week with total quantity of rainfall of 408.01 mm, which was 46.10 per cent deficit of normal rainfall during the year. Pigeon pea and intercrops were sown by dibbling on 27th June 2015 during 30th standard meteorological week. During 31st, 32nd and 33rd standard meteorological week, 69.6 mm rainfall was received which was good for the crop growth. There was dry spell during 26-28th standard meteorological week. During the second year (2016) rains were started from 23rd SMW and continued till 41st standard meteorological week with total quantity of 1126.7 mm, which was 27.31 per cent excess as compared to normal rainfall. Total numbers of rainy days were 68. Pigeon pea and intercrops were sown by dibbling on 2nd July 2016 during the 27th standard meteorological week, except 32nd standard meteorological week, in all meteorological week of kharif season received rainfall.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Yield attributes and seed yield of intercrops (soybean, green gram, black gram and cowpea)
 
Seed yield and yield attributes of soybean, green gram, black gram and cowpea influenced significantly by different land configurations (Table 1). The  yield attributes like  number of pods per plant, weight of pods per plant, weight of seed per plant, number of seed per pod and number of seeds per plant found to be higher in broad bed furrow followed by ridges & furrow and flat bed method. Similar trend was observed in case of seed yield of intercrops i.e. soybean, green gram, black gram and cowpea. This might be due to the substantial highest moisture in BBF attributed to reduced runoff, soil erosion and higher infiltration rate in the soil, thus more conservation of water. The results are in line with the results of Shinde et al., (2009), Shantveerayya et al., (2015), Kadam (2015), Lewade (2017) and Dhale (2017).
 

Table 1: Mean number of pods per plant, weight of pods plant-1 (g), weight of seed plant-1 (g), number seeds pod-1, number of seeds plant-1 and seed yield (kg ha-1) of intercrops as influenced by different land configurations.


 
Seed yield (kg ha-1), straw yield (kg ha-1), biological yield (kg ha-1) and harvest index of pigeon pea
 
The data on seed yield, straw yield, biological yield and harvest index of pigeon pea is presented in Table 2.  Broad bed furrow (L1) recorded higher pigeon pea seed yield of 1382, 1795 and 1588 kg ha-1 during 2015 and 2016 and in pooled data, respectively and found significantly superior over flat bed (L3) but was on par with treatment ridges and furrows (L2) during both the year and in pooled analysis. This might be due to better soil and plant conditions provided by broad bed furrow leading to increase in growth and yield parameters. Similar trend was observed in case of straw yield, biological yield and harvest index of pigeon pea found to be significantly superior in broad bed furrow followed by ridges & furrow and lowest in flat bed method. Among different intercropping systems pigeon pea + green gram recorded significantly higher seed yield of pigeon pea over rest of intercropping systems but it was at par with pigeon pea + black gram intercropping system during 2015, 2016 and in pooled analysis. Pigeon pea + cowpea intercropping system recorded significantly lowest seed yield of pigeon pea during both the years and in pooled analysis. The straw yield, biological yield and harvest index of pigeon pea found to be significantly superior in pigeon pea + green gram intercropping system over the other intercropping systems. The increase in seed yield, straw yield and biological yield of pigeon pea may be due to less competition offered by green gram and black gram for a shorter period to pigeon pea in comparison to pigeon pea + soybean and pigeon pea + cowpea. Similar result was obtained by Rathod et al., (2004) and Kumar et al., (2012). The mean seed yield and yield attributes of pigeon pea were not influenced significantly due to interaction between land configuration and intercropping systems during both the years of experimentation and in pooled data.
 

Table 2: Mean seed yield (kg ha-1), straw yield (kg ha-1), biological yield (kg ha-1) and harvest index of pigeon pea as influenced by different treatments during 2015-16, 2016-17.


 
Pigeon pea equivalent yield
 
Data on pigeon pea equivalent yield are presented in Table 3 as influenced by the various treatments during 2015, 2016 and pooled analysis. Among the land configurations, broad bed furrow (L1) recorded higher pigeon pea equivalent yield of 1595, 2051 and 1823 kg ha-1 during 2015, 2016 and in pooled analysis, respectively and found significantly superior over flat bed (L3) but it was found at par with treatment ridges and furrows (L2) during both the years and in pooled analysis. The pigeon pea equivalent yield was influenced significantly due to different intercropping systems. The pigeon pea equivalent yield in pigeon pea + green gram intercropping was found significantly superior over pigeon pea equivalent yield in pigeon pea + black gram, pigeon pea + soybean and pigeon pea + cowpea intercropping during 2015, 2016 and in pooled analysis. The pigeon pea + cowpea intercropping system recorded significantly lowest pigeon pea equivalent yield during both the years of experimentation and in pooled analysis. The mean pigeon pea equivalent yield as not influenced significantly due to interaction between land configuration and intercropping systems during both the years of experimentation and in pooled data. The results are in tune with those reported by Goyal et al., (1991), Pujari (1996), Verma and Warsi, (1997), Jain et al., (2001) and Dwivedi and Bajpai (1997).
 

Table 3: Pigeon pea equivalent yield (kg ha-1) as influenced by different treatmentsduring 2015-16, 2016-17 and in pooled analysis.

CONCLUSION

The experiment results revealed that pigeon pea responds to land configurations and intercrops. Among the land configurations broad bed furrow and ridges and furrow were found suitable for pigeon pea based intercropping systems. Pigeon pea + green gram (2:1) intercropping system on broad bed furrow (BBF) and ridges and furrow recorded highest pigeon pea equivalent yield and was found productive as compared to other intercropping systems.

REFERENCES


  1. Anonymous. (2016). First advance estimated released on 14/09/2016 by Directorate of Economic and Statistics, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation.

  2. Dhale, S.Y. (2017). Effect of tillage and land configuration practices on growth and yield of rainfedsoybean [Glycine max (L.) Merill]. M.Sc. (Agri.) Thesis, VNMKV, Parbhani (M.S.) India.

  3. Dwivedi R.K. and Bajpai R.P. (1997). Productivity of pigeonpea based cropping systems in Northern Hills Zone of Chattisgarh. Indian J. Agron. 42: 50-52.

  4. Goyal, S.N., Patel, N.L., Patel, N.M. and Ahlawat, I.P.S. (1991). Intercropping studies in pigeonpea under rainfed conditions. Indian J. Agron. 36 (1): 49-51.

  5. Jain, H.C., Deshmukh, M.R. and Duhoon (2001). Studies on fertilizer management in sesame based intercropping system under rainfed conditions in different agro ecosystems. J. Oilseeds Res. 18 (2): 176-177.

  6. Kadam, A.K. (2015). Effect of various land layouts and nutrient levels on growth, yield and quality of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill.) under rainfed condition. M.Sc.(Agri.) Thesis, VNMKV, Parbhani (M.S.) India.

  7. Kumar, P., Rana, K.S. and Rana, D.S. (2012). Effect of planting systems and phosphorous with bio-fertilizers on the performance of sole and intercropped pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) under rainfed conditions. Indian Journal of Agronomy. 57(2): Pp. 127-132.

  8. Lewade, A.D. (2017). Effect of land configurations and foliar sprays on Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] + Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Mill sp.] intercropping system under rainfed condition. M.Sc. (Agri.) Thesis, VNMKV, Parbhani (M.S.) India.

  9. Pujari, B.T. (1996). Pigeonpea based intercropping system in Vertisols of Northeastern Dry Zone of Karnataka. Ph. D. Thesis, Univ. Agric. Sci., Dharwad, Karnataka,India.

  10. Ramamoorthy, K., Christopher, A.L., Alagudurai, S., Kandasamy, O.S. and Murugappan, V. (2004). Intercropping pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) in finger millet (Eleusinecoracana) on productivity and soil fertility under rainfed condition. Indian J. Agron. 49: 28-30.

  11. Rathod, P.S., Halikatti, S.I., Hiremath, S.M. and Kajjidoni, S.T. (2004). Comparative performance of pigeonpea based intercropping systems in northern transitional zone of Karnataka. Karnataka J. Agri. Sci.17(2): 203-206.

  12. Sarma, N.N., Sarma, D. and Paul, R. (1995). Intercropping of greengram, blackgram and sesame in pigeonpea under different seeding method.Indian J. Agron.40: 386-387.

  13. Shantveerayya, C.P., Mansur, S.C., Alagundagi and Salankinkop S.R. (2015). Productivity of barley (Hordium vulgare L.) genotypes to integrated nutrient management and broad bed and furrow method of cultivation in watershed area. International Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 7(4): 497-501.

  14. Shinde, V.S., Deshmukh L.S., Shinde, S.A. and Zade, K.K. (2009). Influence of rainwater management through different agriculture techniques on yield, yield attributing characters and economics of cotton. J. Cotton Res. Dev. 23(1): Pp.51-55.

  15. Swaminathan, M.S. (1981). Improving pulse production and productivity challenges aheads pulse crops. Newsletter, 1(2): 25.

  16. Verma, K.P. and Warsi, A.S. (1997). Production potential of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) based intercropping systems under rainfed conditions. Indian J. Agron., 42 (3): 419-421

  17. Willey, R.W., Rao, M.R. and Natrajan, M.(1980). Traditional Cropping Systems with Pigeonpea and Their Improvement. In: proc. Inte. Workshop Pigeonpea, December 15-19, ICRISAT, Patancheru, Pp.11-25.
Reviewed By

Download Article
In this Article
    Contact us
    Follow us

    Editorial Board

    View all (0)