Abstract
Under rainfed condition (650 mm/annum) of India drought of unpredictable intensity and duration is a prevailing feature. Appropriate intercropping combinations and management practices for sustaining crop productivity in such situations needs to be worked out, where monoculture is prevailing. Objectives were to examine the effect of transpiration suppressants and nutrients on sustaining productivity, profitability of pearlmillet/pigeonpea intercropping for realizing maximum nutrients and moisture use efficiency in moisture scarce conditions. Though there was a reduction in yield of component crops under intercropping greatly so for pigeon pea, higher Pearlmillet Equivalent Yield (PEY), land equivalent ratio (LER) value, economics (net returns and B:C ratio) was achieved higher in pearlmillet/pigeonpea intercropping system as compared to their sole cropping. Nutrients and apparent rain water use efficiency (ARUE) was also higher in same cropping system. The yield response of the transpiration suppressants was observed only in limited soil moisture conditions (2009). However, with respect to yield advantage indices, the effect of transpiration suppressants was comparable to control. Over the period of time, 50 kg N + 17.2 kg P ha-1 recorded higher crop performance ratio, ARUE, agronomic and physiological efficiency of N and P over other fertility treatments. Key words: Apparent rainfall use efficiency, Cajanus cajan, biological indices, nutrients use efficiency, Pennisetum glaucum, transpiration suppressants.
Highlights
Pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)] is a major cereal crop in the arid and semi-arid regions of India
Though there was a reduction in yield of component crops under intercropping greatly so for pigeon pea, higher Pearlmillet Equivalent Yield (PEY), land equivalent ratio (LER) value, economics was achieved higher in pearlmillet/pigeonpea intercropping system as compared to their sole cropping
Our results clearly indicated that under uneven and deficit rainfall situation, pearlmillet/pigeonpea intercropping is superior to conventional pearlmillet or pigeonpea monoculture production in the semi-arid region of India, and minimizes the risk of failure of monoculture and provides maximum profit
Summary
Pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)] is a major cereal crop in the arid and semi-arid regions of India. Studies in rainfed sub tropical agro climatic zones of India indicated depleted soil fertility, poor microbial activity and low organic matter content resulting in the reduced soil volume exploited by the plant for essential nutrients and water (Jakhar et al, 2006). In grey areas of the country, the best alternative to increase the production of cereals, millets and pulses is the adoption of location-specific intercropping systems. Pearlmillet and pigeonpea intercropping has been the most important for dryland areas with limited water availability on marginal and sub-marginal lands in northwest, west and central parts of India (Singh et al, 2010). Use of transpiration suppressants like cycocel (growth retardant) and phenyl mercuric acetate (PMA, stomata closing type); reduce transpiration losses from plants and effectively increases productivity and water use by crops under rainfed conditions (Gaballah and Moursy, 2004). It is necessary to consider nutrient competition in an intercropping system that involves crops of different maturity, such as a pearlmillet with pigeonpea, whose peak demand for resources do not coincide (Tobita et al, 1996)
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