Performance of intercropping legumes in fingermillet (Eleusine coracana) at varying fertility levels Maitra S.1, Ghosh D.C.2, Sounda G., Jana P.K. Department of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal, 741252 1 Present address: R.K. Ashram, KVK, Nimpith Ashram, South 24 Praganas, Wesl Bengal 743338
2 Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharali, Sriniketan 731236
Abstract A field experiment conducted during the monsoon season of 1994 and 1995 showed that sole groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) higher dry-matter yield, leaf-area index and crop-growth rate at early growth stages; but sole groundnut, fingermillet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] + pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] and fingermillet + groundnut intercropping recorded higher values of the above growth attributes at later stages. Sole fingermillet produced more ears/m2 but fingermillet + pigeonpea intercropping recorded more fingers/ear than other cropping systems. Among the legumes, pigeonpea recorded greater number of pods/plant, whereas greengram (Phaseolus radiatus L.) produced higher number of seeds/pod and groundnut had the highest test weight. Sole groundnut produced the highest pod and chaff yields. Fingermillet + groundnut, fingermillet + pigeonpea and sole fingermillet also gave higher yield than other cropping systems. Application 60 kg N, 30 kg P2O6 and 30 kg K2O/ha recorded more dry-matter yield, leaf-area index and crop-growth rate. It helped in increasing fingers/ear, pods/plant and seeds or kernels/pod over the low fertility levels and resulted in higher yield of all the crops under sole and intercropping systems. Sole groundnut at high fertility level gave the highest yield. Top Keywords Fingermillet, Pigeonpea, Greengram, Groundnut, Soybean, Intercropping, Fertility level, Growth, Production. Top |