Finger millet and horsegram intercropping systems in replacement series for advantages and weed smothering

Abstract

The land use efficiency and weed suppression through intercropping plays a pivotal role. A field experiment was carried out on finger millet (Eleusine indica L. Gaertn) –horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.) mono- and intercropping with various weeding (0, 1, or 2 hand-weeding operations) and row spacing (20 and 30 cm) treatments in the Bastar plateau region of India over consecutive five Kharif seasons (2010/2014). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with eighteen treatments replicated thrice. Five percent significant differences were observed in yield and its economics with and without weeding treatments. Horsegram yield was significantly reduced by Finger millet when intercropped. However, total productivity and land use efficiency were higher under the intercropping system as compared to monocrops of either species. There was a significant reduction in weed density and biomass for the intercropping system over both monocrops. Finger millet facilitated an increase in nodule number and dry weight in horsegram under intercropping over monocrops, moreover, root length of horsegram was greater when intercropped. These findings suggest that intercropping Finger millet and horsegram increase total productivity per unit area improve land use efficiency and suppress weeds. Focussing the experimental findings, Finger millet–horsegram (30 cm) with two weedings may be recommended for yield advantage, higher net income, more efficient utilization of resources, and weed suppression as a biological control in western plateau region of India.