Pigeonpea Intercropping Research Articles

Energy budgeting, carbon footprint and economics of sunflower and pigeonpea system under moisture conservation practices in rainfed semi-arid tropics

In drylands, soil water availability in the profile during crop period, especially at critical stages is most vital. System which is productive, energy efficient with a minimum carbon (C) footprint under limited water condition is a concern. Therefore we evaluated sunflower and pigeonpea crops over two-years in terms of productivity, energy, C-footprint and profitability under different moisture conservation measures. These were raised bed, ridge and furrow, tied ridges and furrow, conservation tillage, flatbed sowing and opening furrow after every three rows at 30 days, and flatbed sowing under sole crops of sunflower and pigeonpea and intercropping at 1:1 adopted split-plot design. The results showed in-field moisture conservation by ridge and furrow produced considerably greater sunflower (59.6–66%) and pigeonpea (85.2–128.7%) yields and profitable (604.1 US$ ha−1) over traditional flatbed sowing. It also exhibited greater output energy (37.8–83.0%), energy use efficiency(4.2 kg GJ−1),and lower energy intensity (21.57 × 10−3 GJ US$−1). Sunflower and pigeonpea sole crops produced higher seed yields over intercropping. But it has yield advantage in terms of greater pigeonpea equivalent yield (0.53–1.13 Mg ha−1), profitability (691.8 USD ha−1), output energy (42.4 GJ ha−1) and energy ratio. Among the input energy sources, chemical fertilizers accounted 53.6 % of the total input energy. Interestingly, least C-footprints were recorded under ridge and furrow (182 kg CE kg−1grain)and intercropping (0.248 kg CE kg−1 grain). Results confirmed sunflower and pigeonpea intercropping on ridge and furrow was productive, energy saving, C-footprint reduction and economical practice under rainfed condition.

Correction: Fernandes et al. Sustainable Production of Maize with Grass and Pigeon Pea Intercropping. Agriculture 2023, 13, 1246

In the original publication [...]

Improving grain quality and nitrogen use efficiency of cereal-based cropping systems on vertisols in semi-arid tropics

ContextSemi-arid tropics is facing serious issues of malnutrition in population owing to poor quality of food grain production. Malnutrition is directly linked to lower grain protein and zinc yield due to inappropriate land and water, and nutrient management practices, which also resulted into reduced nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in cereals. ObjectiveThe objectives of the study were to evaluate the effect of land and water and nutrient management on grain protein and zinc yield, and NUE of cereal-based cropping systems on vertisols soils in semi-arid tropics. MethodsThe study was carried out at Hyderabad in India during 2014–15 and 2015–16 and involved three cropping systems (two rotation systems: sorghum-chickpea and maize-groundnut; and one intercropping: pearl millet + pigeonpea), two land and water management i.e. flatbed and broad bed furrows and four nutrient management-N1: Control (no fertilizer), N2: 100% recommended application of macronutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) through chemical fertilizer, N3: N2 + 100% recommended application of secondary nutrient (sulphur) and micronutrient (zinc and boron) through chemical fertilizer, and N4 (integrated nutrient): 50% of N2 + 50% nitrogen in cereals or phosphorus in legumes through organic fertilizer as vermicompost. ResultsIn sorghum-chickpea rotation system, the treatment interaction broad bed furrows with 100% recommended application of macronutrient, secondary nutrient and micronutrient recorded significantly higher grain zinc yield in both the years, while grain protein yield was significantly higher in second year. The grain protein and zinc yield in sorghum-chickpea rotation system, and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency in pearl millet+pigeonpea intercropping system was significantly higher in broad bed furrows than flatbed. The agronomic NUE of broad bed furrows was higher by 61% in 2014–15 and 65% in 2015–16 over flatbed. Among the nutrient management treatments, grain protein and zinc yield, and agronomic NUE were significantly higher in combined application of macronutrient, secondary nutrient, and micronutrients through chemical fertilizer i.e. N3 followed by N4, N2 and N1. ConclusionThe broad bed furrows and application of macronutrient, secondary nutrient and micronutrient could be an effective integrated land and water and nutrient management approach to improve grain quality and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency of cereal-based cropping systems in semi-arid tropics. ImplicationsThis study contributed to develop integrated land and water and nutrient management as an innovative agronomic management practice for cereal-based cropping systems, which needs to scale-up through Government agricultural policies to overcome the issue of malnutrition in population living in semi-arid tropics.

Yield and economic of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Mill sp.) intercropping system under Northern dry zone of Karnataka

Yield and economic of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Mill sp.) intercropping system under Northern dry zone of Karnataka

Effect of in-situ moisture conservation practices on yield and economics of sunflower and pigeonpea intercropping in Vertisols of Northern Karnataka

Field experiments were conducted during Kharif 2020 and 2021 to study the effect of in-situ moisture conservation practices on yield and economics of sunflower and pigeonpea intercropping in Vertisols of Northern Karnataka. Treatments consisted of broad bed and furrow, ridges and furrow, tied ridging, conservation tillage, flatbed and opening furrow after every three rows at 30 DAS compared with flatbed sowing as main plots. Treatments in sub plots were sunflower + pigeonpea (1:1), sole pigeonpea and sunflower. Results showed that significantly higher yield and yield attributes of sunflower and pigeonpea were recorded in ridges and furrows followed by tied ridges and furrow. Yield of both the crops were significantly more in respective sole crops over theintercropping. Higher SEY, LER, net return and BC ratio were noticed in ridges and furrow under intercropping.

Farmer’s Sagaciousness on Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies in Agriculture: A Case Study in Hyatimundaragi Village of Koppala District of Karnataka, India

Climate change is recognized as one of the leading challenges affecting the performance of agriculture and the livelihood of people. Farmers are the hardest hit as they have to continuously respond to climate variations. In order to know farmers' perception of climate change and its impacts and to identify adaptation needs semi-structured questionnaire surveys were carried out in Hyatimundaragii village of Koppala district, Karnataka. Farmers have faced climate variability and noticed increasing temperature, delayed onset of rainfall, intermittent rainfall, prolonged drought conditions, depletion of the water table, untimely filling of water bodies, increased incidence of pests and diseases, livestock diseases, and decreasing soil moisture as the critical factors affecting their cultivation, decrease yield and quality of crop produce. Some of them have started to adapt to these changes by soil conservation measures like the construction of graded bunds, mulching, green manuring and sorghum+pigeonpea intercropping, crop rotation, cultivating drought, pest and disease resistance short duration varieties, providing lifesaving irrigation to crops.

Effect of rhizobium inoculation on rhizosphere phosphorous dynamics and fertilised phosphorous use efficiency in a maize–pigeon pea intercropping system in weathered tropical soil

AbstractIntroductionLow phosphorus (P) use efficiency (PUE) of fertiliser is a critical problem in sustainable crop production, especially in strongly weathered tropical soils with a high P‐fixation capacity. Both intercropping and rhizobium inoculation have shown to improve the P availability of rhizosphere soil, but the effect of a combined approach of using both intercropping and rhizobium inoculation is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of rhizobium inoculation on the soil–plant P dynamics and fertilised PUE under the intercropping system in strongly weathered tropical soil.Materials and MethodsWe conducted an 85‐day cultivation pot experiment with pigeon pea (PP) and maize using highly weathered tropical soil under eight treatments: monocropping (CS) or intercropping, with or without rhizobium (Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61) inoculation (−I, +I) and with or without P fertilisation (0P, 50P) (2 × 2 × 2 = 8 treatments). We evaluated the effects of intercropping and rhizobium inoculation on plant growth parameters, P dynamics of the rhizosphere and bulk soil using the Hedley P fractionation method, the amount of organic acid from plant roots as a plant P‐mobilising capacity, and fertilised PUE.ResultsTotal plant P uptake per pot was significantly increased by intercropping but not by combining intercropping and rhizobium inoculation, resulting in better fertilised PUE only in intercropping. The available inorganic P (Pi) and less labile Pi of the soil were higher in the rhizosphere than those in the bulk by intercropping under 50P and were similar in PP + I under 50 P. The amount of organic acid per pot under 50P increased with each treatment, that is, intercropping and rhizobium inoculation, but not with their combination.ConclusionThe intercropping system has a strong potential to improve PUE by stimulating the P‐mobilising capacity of intercropping plant roots, whereas rhizobium inoculation of the intercropping system did not improve PUE in this study.

Sustainable Production of Maize with Grass and Pigeon Pea Intercropping

This study aimed to assess the impact of intercropping pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan cv. Super N) with maize (Zea mays cv. AG 5055) and Paiaguás palisadegrass (Urochloa brizantha cv. BRS Paiaguás) on grain yield, silage chemical composition, and post-harvest grazing forage. The experiment was conducted on the School Farm of Instituto Federal Goiano, Campus Iporá. The experiment treatments consisted of three cropping systems: pigeon pea and Paiaguás palisadegrass intercropping (PPPG), maize and Paiaguás palisadegrass intercropping (CPG), and maize, pigeon pea, and Paiaguás palisadegrass intercropping (CPPPG), respectively. It was observed after the fermentation process that the PPPG silage promoted the lowest values of forage mass (FM) and a reduction in the dry matter (DM) concentration. The PPPG silage showed higher values of crude protein (75.28 g kg−1 DM), while the CPPPG silage showed proportionately higher values of total digestible nutrients (616.11 g kg−1 DM). The intercropping did not affect the corn grain productivity, thus obtaining an average value of 4.78 Mg ha-1. After the silage harvest, during the dry season, a similar forage availability was obtained between the treatments (3.73 Mg ha−1). All three cultivation strategies produced abundant forage for grazing, showing that integrated intercropping systems can mitigate the seasonality in tropical forage production.

Diversifying with grain legumes amplifies carbon in management-sensitive soil organic carbon pools on smallholder farms

Crop diversification with grain legumes has been advocated as a means to increase agroecological resilience, diversify livelihoods, boost household nutrition, and enhance soil health and fertility in cereal-based cropping systems in sub-Saharan Africa and around the world. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a primary indicator of soil health and there is limited data regarding SOC pools and grain legume diversification on smallholder farms where soils are often marginal. In Malawi, a range of legume diversification options are under investigation, including rotations and a doubled-up legume rotation (DLR) system in which two compatible legumes are intercropped and then rotated with a cereal. The impact of the DLR system on SOC has not yet been determined, and there is a lack of evidence regarding SOC status over a gradient of simple to complex grain legume diversified systems. We address this knowledge gap by evaluating these systems in comparison to continuous sole maize (Zea mays L.) at three on-farm trial sites in central Malawi. After six years of trial establishment, we measured SOC in bulk soils and aggregate fractions and in faster cycling SOC pools that respond more rapidly to management practices, including water extractable organic carbon (WEOC), particulate organic matter carbon (POM-C), potentially mineralizable carbon (C), and macroaggregate C. Cropping treatment differences were not seen in bulk SOC or total N, but they were apparent in SOC pools with a shorter turnover time. The DLR system of intercropped pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) rotated with maize had higher WEOC, POM-C, potentially mineralizable C, macroaggregate and microaggregate C values than continuous maize. Of the single legume rotations, the pigeonpea-maize rotation had more mineralizable C and microaggregate C compared to continuous maize, while the groundnut-maize rotation had similar C values to the maize system. Overall, this study shows the potential for crop rotations diversified with grain legumes to enhance C in management sensitive SOC pools, and it is one of the first reports to show this effect on smallholder farm sites.

MIXTURES OF PHOSPHORUS SOURCES OF DIFFERENT SOLUBILITIES AND THE EFFICIENCY OF USE BY CORN IN INTERCROPPING WITH COVER CROPS

Tropical soils have chemical characteristics that promote a fixation of the P element, making the phosphate fertilizers in these soils have low efficiency. The present work aimed to evaluate the efficiency of phosphate fertilization in the corn crop in different crop systems, different sources of P and mixture between these sources. It was adopted a completely randomized design with subdivided plots. The plots were formed by three treatments (system cultivation of corn): single corn, corn intercropped with Crotalaria juncea, and corn intercropped pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan). The subplots formed by five treatments, created by two P sources and three mixtures between them. The consortium with pigeon pea and crotalaria species reduced productivity regardless of the source or mix of sources used. In consortium cultivation, greater use is made of the applied fertilizer, which means that consortium cultivation can be a tool for improving levels of P use in Brazilian agriculture.

Evaluating the trade-offs and sustainability of minimum tillage and crop-residue addition for food production in the dryland tropics

A long-term study was carried out at ICRISAT farm, Patancheru (India) during rainy (kharif) season 2009–18with an objective to evaluate impact of tillage (minimum/conventional) and residue (addition/removal) management practices on production capacity and sustainability of maize-chickpea sequential and maize+pigeonpea intercropping systems. The experiment was laid out in spilt plot design with 4 replications. The effects of residue addition were inconsistent till the third year of experiment. However, yield benefits from residue addition became apparent fourth year onwards. After 7 years, residue addition showed significant yield benefits to the tune of 9–25% during 2016–17 (8th cropping cycle) and 18–31% during 2017–18 (9th cropping cycle) in both cropping systems. Residue addition also resulted in additional net income of `16,900/ha to `22,980/ha compared to no-residue addition. Minimum tillage in general tended to result in yield loss over normal tillage since beginning. During 8th and 9th cropping cycles, there was net annual loss up to `5400/ha under minimum tillage. Alongside productivity and economic benefits, at the end of 8th year i.e. 2016–17, residue addition showed improved soil health and sequestered around 300 kg carbon/ha/year.

Effect of nutrient management strategies on productivity in rice-pigeon pea intercropping under drought prone rainfed ecology of Eastern India

An experiment was undertaken to compare the productivity of rice- sole with rice-pigeon pea intercropping under different nutrient management (inorganic, organic and integrated nutrient management) strategies in drought prone rainfed (upland) ecology. The experimental data showed that, rice equivalent yield (REY) (2.83 and 3.22 t ha-1 under rice sole and rice -pigeon pea respectively) and yield attributing characters (grain panicle-1 (73) and test weight (24.3g) were higher under inorganic nutrient management followed by the integrated nutrient management (T4) (2.25 t ha-1, 2.64 t ha-1, 64 and 22.7 g respectively). The yield gap between the inorganic and integrated nutrient management decreased over the three years, because, in the first year integrated nutrient management could not produce enough yield and difference was more which became narrow as this treatment produced comparatively more yield afterward. REY was more in rice-pigeon-pea system (varied from 1.13 to 3.22 t ha-1) over the rice-sole (1.01 to 2.83 t ha-1) across the nutrient management strategies. Thus it is evident that, rice- pigeon pea intercropping under integrated nutrient management in upland condition would be better choice in rainfed drought prone area to enhance farm income as well as system productivity.

Energetics and profitability of peanut (Arachis hypogaea)-based cropping systems as influenced with conservation agricultural practices

Increasing energy use efficiency and reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions from agriculture are majorchallenges to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). An experiment, comprising 14 treatments, viz. sole peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), peanut-fallow-sesbania, peanut-fallow-green gram (GG), peanut-conventional tilled wheat (CTW), peanut-CTW-sesbania, peanut-CTW-GG, peanut-CTW-wheat straw incorporation (WSI), peanut-zero tilled wheat (ZTW), peanut-ZTW-sesbania, peanut-ZTW-GG, peanut-ZTW-WSI, peanut+pigeonpea, peanut+pigeonpeasesbania and peanut+pigeonpea-GG was laid out in randomized block design with three replications for five consecutive years (2011–12 to 2015–16) at Junagadh, Gujarat, at fixed site to study the influence of conservation agricultural practices on energetics and profitability of peanut-based cropping systems. Green manuring with sesbania significantly improved the pod yield of peanut (12.8%) and seed yield of pigeonpea (8.9%). Zero tillage (ZT) improved wheat yield by 4.8% over Conventional tillage (CT). The energy requirement of peanut+pigeonpea intercropping was 16.7% lower than peanut–wheat cropping system irrespective of GM and WSI. Peanut–ZT wheat with sesbania green manure recorded highest energy output (251.2 × 103 MJ/ha) and net energy (201.0 × 103 MJ/ha). This cropping system also fetched the highest system productivity (4551 kg/ha), and system profitability (` 125.7 × 103/ha) followed by peanut–ZT wheat (INR 120.6/ha × 103/ha). Therefore, peanut–ZT wheat–green manuring (sesbania/greengram) cropping system was found as productive, economical and energy efficient which might be promoted to intensify the sole peanut cropping in Saurashtra region of Gujarat.

Effect of Tillage and Nutrient Management on Economics and Soil Status by Maize + Pigeon Pea Intercropping System

Effect of Tillage and Nutrient Management on Economics and Soil Status by Maize + Pigeon Pea Intercropping System

Effects of intercropping component of conservation agriculture on sorghum yield in the Sudan Savanna

ABSTRACT Conservation agriculture (CA), which consists of minimum soil disturbance, soil cover, and crop rotation/association, has been promoted as an indivisible three-component package to control water erosion in the Sudan Savanna. However, CA has not been adopted by local smallholder farmers, probably because the three-component package constitutes a large burden for the farmers. Our previous study revealed that two components – minimum tillage and crop residue mulching – are sufficient for soil conservation and intercropping, when used in combination with minimum tillage and crop residue mulching, had no effect on erosion control. In the present study, we conducted a 3-year field experiment in Burkina Faso to evaluate the effects of the intercropping component on sorghum yield. The four treatments employed were conventional practice (full tillage, no sorghum residue mulching, no intercropping), two-component CA (minimum tillage and sorghum residue mulching without intercropping), and three-component CA with velvet bean (VB) or pigeon pea (PP) intercropping. We found that sorghum yield was similar between treatments during the first 2 years but higher for CA with PP intercropping than for conventional practice in the third year. This increased yield was mainly attributed to higher soil nitrogen and carbon content as well as panicle mass and harvest index observed for CA with PP intercropping than for conventional practice. Unexpectedly, however, PP produced few seeds and did not survive the dry season. Therefore, we concluded that CA with PP intercropping is effective to increase sorghum yield but practical only for the prosperous farmers who can afford to purchase PP seeds every year and accept no increased yield during the first 2 years after its installation. For most smallholder farmers, it would be realistic to promote two-component CA without intercropping because it can effectively control water erosion and reduce the farmers’ burden of its adoption in the Sudan Savanna.

Comparative performance of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L). Millsp.) Based intercropping systems with short duration pulses and oilseed crops in gird region of Madhya Pradesh

The field experiment was conducted during kharif 2018 and 2019 at Research farm, RVSKVV, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The 15 treatments consisted with eight sole crops i.e. pigeonpea, sesame, groundnut, soybean, greengram, blackgram, cowpea, cluster bean and seven intercropping treatments with 1:2 ratio pigeonpea + sesame, pigeonpea + groundnut, pigeonpea + soybean, pigeonpea + green gram, pigeonpea + blackgram, pigeonpea + cowpea and pigeonpea + clusterbean replicated thrice in a randomized block design. Results indicated that the grain yield of sole pigeonpea (1684 kg ha-1) was significantly higher than intercropped pigeonpea (703 kgha-1). Whereas pigeonpea with groundnut resulted in maximum pigeonpea equivalent yield (1983 Kgha-1) followed by 1826 Kgha-1 with pigeonpea + cowpea intercropping system. Similarly the net returns was also maximum (82215 ₹ ha-1) with pigeonpea + groundnut intercropping system.

Pre and post - emergence herbicides with cultural practices on weed management in soybean - pigeonpea intercropping system under middle Gujarat conditions

To study the “pre and post-emergence herbicides with cultural practices on weed management in soybean-pigeonpea intercropping system under middle Gujarat condition”, an experiment was conducted at Agriculture Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Derol, Dist: panchmahal, Gujarat, India during kharif seasons of the years 2017-18 and 2018-19. Ten treatments for weed management were studied in randomized block design with four replications. Result of field experimentation, it seems quite logical that potential production, profit and economic weed management can be achieved in soybean - pigeonpea intercropping system by interculturing + hand weeding at 20 & 40 DAS or post-emergence application of imazamox 35% + imazethapyr 35% (Pre mix)70 g ha-1PoE fb interculturing + hand weeding at 30 DAS.

Design, Development and Evaluation of Tractor Drawn Groundnut + Pigeonpea Intercropping Planter

Design, Development and Evaluation of Tractor Drawn Groundnut + Pigeonpea Intercropping Planter

Biomass yield and fodder quality of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) as affected by Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) intercrop and planting distance

The study sought to investigate the effect of two planting distances and Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan) intercrop on the biomass yield, chemical composition and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum). The treatments were laid in a 2x2 factorial RCBD. The factors were two planting distances (0.5x0.5 and 0.5x1m) and two levels of intercrop (Pigeon Pea intercrop and sole Napier grass). At 90-days, the grasses were harvested and biomass yield measured. The fodder was separated into leaves and stems for chemical and digestibility analysis in 2x2x2 factorial in CRD. The interaction at all levels was not significant for all the parameters. There was a significant main effect of planting distance, intercrop and botanical fraction on biomass yield, plant height, tiller number and fodder quality. Whilst biomass yield was higher (P=0.02) in the 0.5x0.5m, no significant difference was recorded in the effect of the intercrop. Whilst intercrop affected (P<0.05) IVOMD and ME, botanical fraction significantly affected DM, CP and ME. The leaf fraction had more (P<0.05) DM, CP and ME than the stem fraction. The study revealed that close planting distance enhanced biomass yield whilst Pigeon Pea intercrop and botanical fraction affected fodder quality of Napier grass.

Yield and Yield Attributes as Influenced by Nutrient Management Practices in Pigeonpea and Clusterbean Intercropping System

A filed experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture Farm, Gwalior on sandy clay loam soil during Kharif-2012 and 2013 to study the influence of nutrient management practices in pigeonpea and clusterbean intercropping system. On the basis of two year pooled data, results revealed that sole pigeonpea and clusterbean recorded significantly higher seed and stalk yield, harvest index, number of pods/plant, test weight, protein content, protein yield, dry matter/plant. Among the intercropping treatments T4(125% RDF to pigeonpea and no fertilizers to clusterbean) recorded significantly higher seed yield, stalk yield, harvest index, protein content, protein yield, yield attributes, pigeonpea equivalent yield and net return over other treatments except T3 and T5 which were onpar with T4 treatment.