Intercropping and weed management in pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum) under rainfed condition

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on clayey soil during rainy (kharif) seasons of 2011 and 2012 at Junagadh (Gujarat) to evaluate the effect of intercropping and weed management on growth and yield of pearlmillet. The results revealed that growth and yield attributes of pearlmillet were significantly higher under sole cropping as compared to intercropping, whereas, intercropping of blackgram and greengram with pearlmillet significantly increased pearlmillet grain equivalent yield compared to sole crop of pearlmillet. Intercropping of blackgram and greengram in pearlmillet significantly reduced the density as well as dry weight of weeds and also realized higher net returns, B:C and income equivalent ratio in comparison to sole crop of pearlmillet. The results further showed that twice hand weeding (HW) at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing (WAS) and application of pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha as pre-emergence (PE) supplemented with one HW at 6 WAS significantly enhanced the growth and yield parameters as well as pearlmillet grain and straw equivalent yields over unweeded check. Twice HW at 3 and 6 WAS and application of pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha PE supplemented with one HW at 6 WAS significantly reduced the population and dry matter accumulation of weeds and accrued higher net returns, B:C and income equivalent ratio as compared to unweeded check.