Abstract
Pulses have distinct morpho-physiological response under reduced sunlight. But little is known for their capacity to adapt to the level of shading encountered in crop mixtures. Field experiment was conducted to evaluate the pulses under artificial shade during rainy season at Raichur, Karnataka. Objectives were to select potential pulse crop tolerant to shade based on productivity and radiation use efficiency (RUE). Experiment was laid out in split-plot design, wherein light intensity (unshade, 50 and 75% shade) in main plots and pigeon-pea, cowpea, lablab and black-gram were in sub plots. Shade levels were created by the erection of white shade nets at 25 DAS continued upto harvest. Results indicated that irrespective of the crop more pods, grain, stover and protein yield were recorded under unshade. While, pigeon-pea and lablab were produced significantly higher yield under unshade, however, these were also well performed under 50 per cent shade over black-gram and cowpea. However, seeds crude protein was higher in shaded plants compared to unshaded. Significantly higher RUE (2.22 gMJ-1) was recorded in pigeon-pea under 75 per cent shade and lowest in unshaded lablab (0.35 gMJ-1) and black-gram (0.40 g MJ-1). Results inferred that pigeon-pea and lablab were found tolerant to shade compared to cowpea and black-gram and may be suitable for crop mixtures cultivation.
Highlights
Light is an indispensable resource for crop growth that controls growth rate, organ development or structure, function, and behaviour
The low yield in species of intercropped pulses compared to monoculture is primarily due to shading that has led to poor development of plants
The choice of appropriate species of pulses plays a significant role in crop mixtures cultivation to achieve the maximum yield of intercropped pulses under low light intensity
Summary
Light is an indispensable resource for crop growth that controls growth rate, organ development or structure, function, and behaviour. Plants under high light intensity are known to reduce the photosynthetic rate under the shade. Selection of species that perform stable photosynthesis under various light intensities will be a greater advantage to achieve high and stable productivity in natural environments. Pulses are known for differential tolerance to reduced light in crop combinations. Selection of these pulses in association with other crops depends on their potential growth (Pang et al, 2017). The low yield in species of intercropped pulses compared to monoculture is primarily due to shading that has led to poor development of plants. The choice of appropriate species of pulses plays a significant role in crop mixtures cultivation to achieve the maximum yield of intercropped pulses under low light intensity. The objectives of the present study were to test the performance of pulses grain yield to differed densities of shading, to explore responses of the morphological and physiological traits to shading and to reveal the relationship between yield performance and responses of the morphological traits under lower light shading
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