Effect of little millet based pulses intercropping in rainfed conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Centre of Excellence in Millets, Athiyandal, Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu during kharif 2016 to study the effect of intercropping of little millet with pigeonpea and lablab in two different row proportions (4:1 and 6:1 respectively) on growth and yield. Among the intercropping treatments little millet and pigeonpea intercropped in 6:1 row ratio or 6:1 row ratio little millet + pigeonpea - mothbean sequence produced significantly higher dry matter production, grain weight, grain yield of little millet, pigeonpea and lablab. As regards sole and intercropping systems, yield of little millet, pigeonpea and lablab was highest in sole cropping. Higher little millet equivalent yield (LMEY) was recorded in intercropping of little millet and pigeonpea in 6:1 row ratio with horse gram sequence, as compared to rest of the treatments.