Effect of planting methods, geometry and intercrops on growth and productivity of pigeonpea in pigeonpea based cropping systems

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the influence of planting methods, geometry and intercrops on growth and productivity of pigeonpea at College of agriculture, Dharwad, India, during 2016-17. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with twelve treatment combinations and replicated thrice. Sole transplanted pigeonpea at 120cm × 60cm geometry produced significantly higher values of plant growth parameters and pigeonpea grain yield (2,662 kg ha-1) as compared to intercropped transplanted pigeonpea (120cm × 60cm) and direct sown sole pigeonpea as well as intercropping systems at 120cm × 60cm and 90cm × 30cm geometries. Among the intercropping systems, transplanted pigeonpea (120cm x 60cm) intercropping with greengram recorded significantly higher growth parameters and pigeonpea grain yield (2,550 kg ha-1) and transplanted pigeonpea (120cm x 60cm) intercropping with blackgram recorded significantly pigeonpea equivalent yield (3,987 kg ha-1) as compared to other intercropping systems and sole pigeonpea.