Friday, 3 October 2025

Intercropping and Organic Nutrient Management Effects on Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) Yield in South Gujarat, India | Chapter 12 | Agricultural Sciences: Techniques and Innovations Vol. 4

 

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Mill sp.) is an important food legume of the semi-arid tropics of Asia and Africa. It occupies a prominent place in Indian rainfed agriculture. Enhancing the productivity of the crop assumes specific significance in India, mainly to combat protein malnutrition, as it is the main source of protein to the predominant vegetarian population. During recent times, organic agriculture has emerged as an economically viable option of farming because of the growing demand for organic products worldwide. This study was conducted to study the effect of intercropping system and nutrient management through organic sources on yield attributes and yield of pigeonpea crop (Cajanus cajan L.) under south Gujarat conditions. An experiment was conducted for two consecutive years at Rambhas Farm, Hill Millet Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Waghai, Dangs, Gujarat, during kharif season of 2022-23 and 2023-24.  The experiment was laid out in randomised block design with factorial concept having two factors with twenty-four treatment combinations and three replications. Yield attributes, viz., number of pods per plant, pod length and number of seeds per pod of pigeonpea were recorded significantly higher under treatment I4 (sole pigeonpea) during both years and in pooled analysis, which was at par with treatment I3 (pigeonpea + drilled paddy). Significantly higher seed yield and stalk yield of pigeonpea were recorded in sole pigeonpea (I4) during both years of study and in pooled analysis. The higher stalk yield under sole pigeonpea might be due to lack of competition because of intercrops, as the plants have to face neither nutrient nor moisture stress conditions in sole cropping, which reflects in improvement of growth and yield attributes of pigeonpea crop and finally in terms of stalk yield. Significantly higher number of pods per plant, pod length and number of seeds per pod, seed yield and stalk yield of pigeonpea were noted with application of 10 t/ha FYM + Three spray of 2 % Enrich banana pseudostem sap (N4) which remained statistically at par with treatment N6 (5 t/ha vermicompost + Three spray of 2 % Enrich banana pseudostem sap) and N1 (10 t/ha FYM) during both the years and in pooled analysis. From the findings, it can be concluded that Drilled paddy or little millet as an intercrop in kharif pigeonpea at a 1:2 row proportion is found more feasible for higher yield and profit than finger millet under south Gujarat conditions. Additionally, the application of farmyard manure along with multiple sprays of enriched banana pseudostem sap to the pigeonpea–nutri-cereal intercropping system (1:2 row ratio) can enhance profitability and yield

 

Author(s) Details

J. M. Kokani
Department of Agronomy, COA, N.A.U, Waghai, Gujarat, India.

 

V. M. Patel
Department of Agronomy, COA, N.A.U, Waghai, Gujarat, India

 

P. Waghmare
Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India.

 

R. R. Pisal
Department of Agronomy, N.M.C.A, N.A.U, Navsari, Gujarat, India.

 

D.M. Chaudhari
Department of Agronomy, ACH, N.A.U, Navsari, Gujarat, India.

 

K. N. Rana
Department of Agronomy, COA, N.A.U, Bharuch, Gujarat, India.

 

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/asti/v4/6285

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