Effect of planting pattern and nutrient management practices on growth and production efficiency of pigeonpea under pigeonpea - sesame intercropping system

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2016-17 and 2017-18 at Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot, Satna (M.P.) to select the suitable row ratio and find out the appropriate nutrient management for higher growth and production efficiency of pigeonpea under pigeonpea + sesame intercropping system. Growth characters of pigeonpea viz. plant height, number of trifoliate leaves, dry weight/plant, number of nodules and nodule dry weight were found numerically higher in 2:2 and 4:2 paired row planting pigeonpea + sesame system. However, seed yield, stover yield and production efficiency of pigeonpea was recorded significantly superior in 2:2 paired row planting. Application of 100% RDF to main crop (20:60:30 kg NPK/ha) + PSB treatment and 75% RDF to main crop +FYM 5 t/ha recorded significantly more growth parameters viz. plant height, number of trifoliate leaves, dry weight/plant, number of nodule/plant and nodule dry weight. The significantly higher seed and stover yield and production efficiency were recorded under 100% RDF to main crop + PSB. Production efficiency of 100% RDF to main crop + PSB and 75% RDF to main crop + FYM 5 t/ha were noted 58% and 50% more over FYM 10 t/ha (control).