Effect of groundnut-based millet intercropping systems on growth and productivity of groundnut

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2024 at S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, to evaluate the effect of groundnut-based millets intercropping systems on the growth and yield of groundnut. Ten treatments, including sole and intercropping systems with foxtail, finger, and little millets in 5:2 and 5:4 row ratios, were assessed using a randomized block design. Growth parameters such as plant height (52.0 cm), leaf area index (6.5), and dry matter (4638 kg ha-1) were significantly higher in the sole crop of groundnut. Results of the experiment indicated that higher groundnut pod and haulm yields were recorded in the sole crop of groundnut (2295 kg ha-1 and 3016 kg ha-1, respectively). Among the intercropping treatments, significantly higher pod and haulm yield (1976 kg ha-1 and 2689 kg ha-1, respectively), total number of pods plant-1 (22.1), number of filled pods plant-1 (16.3), 100-pod weight (110g), kernel weight (69 g) were recorded in groundnut + finger millet in the row proportion of 5:2. Intercropping with millets at a 5:2 ratio showed better compatibility and resource utilization. The study concluded that groundnut + finger millet (5:2) is the most effective system for maximizing yield under sandy loam soils in the Southern Agro-Climatic Zone of Andhra Pradesh.