Effect of different intercrops on growth and yield of pigeonpea in a paired row planting system

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Tandur, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) on medium black soil under rainfed condition during kharif, 2017 and 2018. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with 3 replications. The experiment consists of six treatments (intercrops) which were sown in a paired row planting of Pigeonpea 1. Pigeonpea+Greengram, 2. Pigeonpea+Blackgram, 3. Pigeonpea+Clusterbean, 4. Pigeonpea+Bhendi, 5. Pigeonpea+Brinjal and 6. Sole Pigeonpea. Pigeonpea crop significantly recorded more number of pods per plant and highest seed yield (1777 kg ha-1) in sole Pigeonpea followed by Pigeonpea+Clusterbean intercrop system. Among all the intercrops, Bhendi recorded highest yield (41,706 kg ha-1), net returns (Rs.1,58,532 ha-1) and B:C (3.17) ratio. Highest Pigeonpea equivalent yields (42,919 kg ha-1), gross returns (Rs.2,81,310 ha-1), net returns (Rs.2,18,810 ha-1) and B:C ratio (3.50) were recorded in Pigeonpea+Bhendi intercropping system.