Increasing Productivity of Upland Ecosystem Through Row and Mixed Intercropping of Pigeonpea with Rice-Blackgram Crop Sequence

Abstract

Row and mixed intercropping at 6:1 and 10:1 ratios along with the line sowing and broadcasting sole pigeonpea and rice-blackgram crop sequence were tested to evaluate the agro-economic productivity and advantages of intercropping over sole cropping. Grain yields of rice, blackgram and pigeonpea were affected by intercropping. Row intercropping of pigeonpea at 6:1 and 10:1 row ratio and mixed intercropping at 10:1 ratio gave significantly higher rice equivalent yield than sole pigeonpea and rice-blackgram crop sequence. High gross return, gross margin and benefit-cost ratio found the intercropping as a more profitable system. High land equivalent ratio and low competitive ratio by intercropping indicated its advantages over sole cropping.