Effect of Sorghum-Based Intercropping System on Nutrient Uptake and Yield of Crops in Southern Dry Zone of Karnataka

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2020 at All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Sorghum, Krishi vigyan kendra, Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka to study the effect of sorghumbased intercropping system on nutrient uptake and yield of crops in southern dry zone of Karnataka. Treatments consisted of sole crops and different row proportions of Sorghum + intercrops (greengram, blackgram, cowpea and field bean at 2:1, 4:1 and 4:2). Intercropping increased total N, P and K uptake enhancing grain and straw/haulm yield of sorghum and intercrops. Among intercropping systems highest total nitrogen and potassium uptake by sorghum was recorded in sorghum intercropped with black gram at 4: 2 row proportion (172.95kg ha^-1 and 178.68kg ha^-1 respectively) as compared to other treatment combination. But in case of phosphorous sorghum intercropped with green gram at 4: 2 row proportion recorded significantly higher total uptake of phosphorous (45.63kg ha^-1). Among all the intercrops, sole field bean recorded higher uptake of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (41.31,21.62 and 43.68kg ha^-1) compared to other treatments. The combined effect of sorghum intercropped with black gram at 4: 2 row proportion recorded the highest sorghum yield (16.23 q ha^-1) and straw yield (144.30 q ha^-1). From the results it was confirmed that sorghum + black gram in 4: 2 row proportion was better in terms of nutrient uptake and yield compared to the other treatments.

⓿ Impact of sorghum-legume intercropping system on productivity of crops.

⓿ Influence of legume-based intercropping systems for increased nutrient uptake of different cropping systems.