Performance of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) intercropping as influenced by row ratios and duration of fingermillet (Elusine coracana) cultivars

Field experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 2005 and 2006 at Ranchi to evaluate the production potential of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) in sole and intercropping with different duration (short, medium and long) cultivars of fingermillet (Elusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) under four row proportions (1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4). The maximum grain yield (1.05 and 1.13 tlha in 2005 and 2006) was obtained with pigeonpea sole which was significantly superior to intercropping treatments. Among intercropping systems, grain yield of pigeonpea increased with decrease in plant densities of fingermillet. Pigeonpea + short duration (SD) fingermillet 1:1 recorded maximum grain yield of pigeonpea (0.83 tlha) that is 76.1% of sole crop. The grain yield of fingermillet cultivars was also higher under sole cropping and decreased in intercropping system in respect of short, medium and long duration cultivars. Intercropping pigeonpea and long duration fingermillet 1:4 row ratio recorded maximum finger millet grain yield (2.33 tlha). Row arrangement of 1:1 ratio pigeonpea + fingermillet intercropping produced significantly higher pigeonpea equivalent yield (PEY) irrespective of duration of fingermillet. However SD fingermillet + pigeonpea 1:1 row proportion was most remunerative (Rs 15,091/ha) with high land equivalent ratio (1.46) and monetary advantage (6,204 Rs/ha). Nutrient uptake (N, P and K), available soil moisture, available N-P-K content of soil was higher when pigeonpea was grown with fingermillet in 1:1 row ratio. The intercropping of pigeonpea with fingermillet at higher row proportion (1:4) was found loss making system.