Production and profitability of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) based intercropping systems in lowland summer rice fallows

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the summer season of 2024 - 2025 at the Integrated Farming Systems Research Station, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. This study aims to evaluate the effect of legume intercropping on the growth, yield attributes and yield of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) in lowland rice fallows and to assess the economics. The experiment comprised thirteen treatments intercropping pearl millet with bush cowpea, fodder cowpea, green gram and black gram in 1:1 and 2:1 planting ratios along with their respective sole crops, laid out in a Randomized Block Design replicated thrice. Growth and yield attributes of pearl millet were significantly influenced by intercropping systems. The tallest plants, higher number of tillers and maximum grain yield (2498 kg ha⁻¹) were observed in T₉ (sole crop of pearl millet). Growth and yield attributes of intercrops were significantly reduced under intercropping systems. Sole crop of bush cowpea (T10), fodder cowpea (T11), green gram (T12) and black gram (T13) recorded the tallest plants with the highest number of branches, leaf area and LAI followed by intercropping at 1:1 ratio. Yield attributes such as number of pods per plant, grain yield and haulm yield were also higher in sole cropping. The leaf: stem ratio (0.78±0.03), green fodder yield (8184±162 kg ha-1) and dry fodder yield (1042±40 kg ha-1) were also higher in T11 followed by T3. Among the treatments, T₁ (pearl millet + bush cowpea in 1:1 ratio) recorded the highest pearl millet equivalent yield (3888 kg ha⁻¹) followed by T₇ (pearl millet + black gram in 1:1 ratio) with 3749 kg ha⁻¹. The highest net income (₹90,246 ha⁻¹) and benefit: cost ratio (2.15) were also observed in T₇, indicating profitability of the system. The lowest yield and economic return were recorded in T₁₁ (sole crop of fodder cowpea). Overall, intercropping with short-duration legumes such as black gram and bush cowpea enhanced system productivity, economic efficiency and resource utilization compared to sole cropping. The study concluded that T₇ (pearl millet + black gram in 1:1 ratio) were the most productive, economically viable and sustainable intercropping systems for effective utilization of lowland summer rice fallows of Kerala.