Sustainable intercrop association of little millet (Panicum miliare) with groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59797/ija.v41i3.3667Keywords:
Abstract
An experiment was conducted during the rainy season (khariJ1989,1990 and 1991 to cvilluaie the economically and biologically sustainable intercmp,association of Birsa Gondlil littlc 111illet (IJaninrm miliare L.) with AK 12-24 groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and little millet with BR 65 pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Mcsp.]. Intercropping of either groundnut or pigeonpea with little millet was found beneficial to sole-stand-yield of little millet, but it was uneconomical to sole-stand yield of both the intercrops. Among the intercrops, associztion of little millet with groundnut in 2 :!, 2 :2 and 4 : 1 row ratios were found more remunerative, which gave higher monetary advantage of Rs 320llia and Rs 4891 ha respectively than sole little millet. These treatments also accounted for higher nct return (212%232%), net return to RslRe investments (Rs 1.27-1.49), net returnlday (Rs 16.72- 1 8.31) and finally relative net return (Rs 1.59-1.70) over sole little millet. Row ratio of 4:l also accounted for maximum land-equivalent ratio (1.26) and product of crowding coefficient (K 25.43).References
Indian J.AgFon. 41 (3) : 354-358 (Septem~er 1996)
Sustainable intercrop association of little millet (Panicum
miliare) with groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and
pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) S. AHMAD ANDN. K. PRASAD
Department of Agronomy, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Bihm 834 006
Received: December 1994
An experiment was conducted during the rainy season (khariJ1989,1990 and 1991 to cvilluaie the economically and biologically sustainable intercmp,association of 'Birsa Gondli'l littlc 111illet (IJaninrm miliare L.) with 'AK 12-24' groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and little millet with 'BR 65' pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.)Mcsp.]. Intercropping of either groundnut or pigeonpea with little millet was found beneficial to sole-stand-yield of little millet, but it was uneconomical to sole-stand yield of both the intercrops. Among the intercrops, associztion of little millet with groundnut in 2 : !, 2 : 2 and 4 : 1 row ratios were found more remunerative, which gave higher monetary advantage of Rs 320llia and Rs 4891 ha respectively than sole little millet. These treatments also accounted for higher nct return (212%232%), net return to RslRe investments (Rs1.27-1.49), net returnlday (Rs 16.72- 1 8.31) and finally relative net return (Rs 1.59-1.70) over sole little millet. Row ratio of 4:l also accounted for maximum land-equivalent ratio (1.26) and product of crowding coefficient (K 25.43).
Little millzt (Panicum miliare L.) is one parative performance of little milalet with of the important food crops for the tribal groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and folk. It becones available for consumption pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] at at the time when there is an acute shortage different row ratios under dryland condition of foodgrains in their households due to ear- of plateau region. ly harvest in comparison to other rainy-sea-
MATERIALS AN11 MISI'I IODS
son (kharij) crops. It would be a advantage, if some extra yield could be harvested from An experiment was conducted at Ranchi the same unit of land in addition to sole (625 m altitude 20 17'N and 85' 19' E) component. Thus intercropping of some of during the monsoon season of 1989-1991. the other crops with little millet may be a The soil was sandy loam with 22% clay, low sustainable cropping pattern under low in water-holding capacity (at 113 bar 18% management conditions. Rafey and Prasad and at 15 bar 8%). It was low in available N (1992) evaluated the feasibility of growing (156.0 kglha) and available P (9.5 kg/ha) maize with pigeonpea under the same agro- and medium in exchangeable K (1 45.0 kg/ climatic conditions but information on ha) and pH 6.1. The total rainfall during the growing of little millet in association with crop period of June to December in 1989, other 'crops is not adequate. Hence an exper- 1990 and 1991 was 933.1 mm, 1,287.8 mm iment was conducted to evaluate the com- and 1,079.3 mm respectively.
September 19961 SUSTAINABLE INTERCROP ASSOCIATION
The treatments consisted of 3 sole stands of each 'Birsa Gondli 1' little millet, 'AK 12-24' groundnut and 'BR 65' pigeonpea and intercrop associations of little millet with each groundnut and pigeonpea in row ratiosof2: 1,4: 1,6: 1,2:2,4:2and6:
Thus 15 treatments were replicated thrice in randomized block design. The nutrients in the sole stands of little millet, groundnut and pigeonpea were applied as 20 : 20 :0,
:50:30and20:50:30N:P:K(kg/ha) respectively and in ir~tercrops as per their row ratios. The row spacing each for little millet and groundnut was 25 cm and for pi- geonpea 75 cm. ,
The pooled grain yield of 3 years were statistically analysed. It was further comput- ed for different competition functions, par- tial and total land-equivalent ratios, compet- itive ratio, relative crowding coefficient and their products, aggressivity of little millet on intercrops groundnut and pigeonpea and that of intercrops on little millet as de- scribed by Willey'(1979). It was hrther, cal- culated for area-time equivalent ratio as pro-posed by Hiebsch (1978). It was also evalu- ated on the basis of different economical pa- rameters, viz. monetary advantages (value of combined intercrops yields) x LER-11 LER, net return, net returnIRe investment, differences in net return over sole stand of little millet and relative net return as sug- gested by Jain and Rao (1980).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Grain yield
Significant variations in grain yields of all the species were recorded (Table 1). Al- though sole groundnut gave maximum yields over rest of the treatments but it was statistically equal to 4 : 1 and 2 :2 stands of little millet with groundnut. However, all the intercrop associations of little millet with groundnut were superior lo sole stand yield of little millet, whereas 2 : I, 4 : 2 and
:2 associations of little millet gave fairly a little less yield than pure culture of little millet. Introd~ction of groundnut in little millet under 4 : 1 and 6 : I row ratios also benefited the little millet by giving more yield which was even higher Ihan sole stand yield of little millet. This niight be due to beneficial effect of legunie on cereal.
Biological feasibilily
The partial land-equi
