Evaluation of pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum) and clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) intercropping system under arid western plain zone in India

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season (July-November) of 2011 to evaluate the pearlmillet and clusterbean intercropping system in the arid region of Rajasthan. Intercropping of pearlmillet cultivar HHB-67 with clusterbean cultivar RGC-1003 in row ratio 1:3 resulted significantly maximum effective tillers per plant. Sole pearlmillet cultivar HHB-67 produced significantly maximum seed yield and had the maximum harvest index. Among intercropping treatments pearlmillet cultivar HHB-67 with clusterbean cultivarRGC-1003 in row ratio 1:1 resulted significantly maximum seed yield over other treatment. Pearlmillet cultivar Raj 171 + clusterbean cultivarRGC-1003 (1:1 row ratio)resulted in significantly maximumstover and biological yield. Intercropping of pearlmillet cultivar HHB-67 + clusterbean cultivarRGC-986 in row ratio 1:3 was superior to all the intercropping treatments in terms of PMEY, net returns and B:C ratio. But LER ofpearlmillet cultivar HHB-67 + clusterbean cultivarRGC-986 in row ratio 2:2 was maximum among all the treatments.