Planting pattern and phosphorus management in pigeonpea and mungbean intercropping system

A field experiment was conducted at Main Agricultural Research Station, Dharwad during rainy season of 2015 and 2016 to study the effect of planting pattern and phosphorus management on production and profitability of intercropping system of mungbean and pigeonpea. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications and eight treatments. Among them, four planting patterns [sole pigeonpea, mungbean + pigeonpea 1:3 (120 cm × 20 cm), mungbean + pigeonpea 1:2 (90 cm × 20 cm) and mungbean + pigeonpea 2:2 (90 cm × 20 cm)] were main plot treatments and two phosphorus levels (P₂O₅ @ 50 kg ha⁻¹ and P₂O₅ @ 75 kg ha⁻¹) were sub plot treatments. Based on pooled data the results revealed that, the significantly higher mungbean seed yield (424 kg ha⁻¹) was recorded with application of 75 kg P₂O₅ as compared to 50 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹. Whereas, in planting pattern, sole mungbean recorded significantly higher seed yield (757 kg ha⁻¹) as compared to all other intercropping systems. Yield advantage indices and net returns were significantly higher in pigeonpea + mungbean (1:3) with 75 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ as compared to other treatments. This study indicated the need of fifty per cent higher dose of P₂O₅ for the pigeonpea and mungbean intercropping system (1:3) in northern transition zone of Karnataka.