Influence of NPK levels on productivity of finger millet +soybean (4:2) intercropping system under Alfisol

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2024 at College of Agriculture, Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (KSNUAHS), Navile, Shivamogga, Karnataka to study the effect of different NPK fertilizer levels on crop growth, yield and yield attributes under finger millet + soybean (4:2) intercropping system. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design with twelve treatment combinations comprising three cropping systems [Finger millet sole crop (CS₁), Soybean sole crop (CS₂), Finger millet + Soybean (4:2) intercropping (CS₃)] and four nutrient management levels [Control (NM₁), 75% RDF (NM₂), 100% RDF (NM₃), 125% RDF (NM₄)] along with recommended dose of FYM with three replications. Grain and straw yield of finger millet was significantly higher (32.43 and 50.83 q ha-1, respectively) in finger millet sole crop with application of 125 percent RDF along with recommended dose FYM compared to other treatments. Higher plant height (91.61 cm) was also observed in the same treatment. Number of tillers per plant, number of ear heads per plant and number fingers per ear head were found to be higher in the treatment receiving 75% RDF with finger millet + soybean (4:2) intercropping.