Yield and economics of pigeon pea based intercropping systems as influenced by different land configurations

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at experimental farm of AICRP for Dry Land Agriculture, V.N.M.K.V., Parbhani during kharif season of 2015-16 and 2016-17 to study yield and economics of pigeon pea based intercropping systems as influenced by different land configurations. Soil of experimental field was medium deep black with low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in available potassium. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three main plot treatments and four sub plot treatments. The main plot treatments were three land configurations as (L1) Broad bed furrow (BBF), (L2) Ridges and furrow and (L3) Flat bed method. Sub plot treatments were four intercropping systems i.e. (I1) pigeon pea + soybean (2:1), (I2) pigeon pea + greengram (2:1), (I3) pigeon pea + black gram (2:1) and (I4) pigeon pea + Cowpea (2:1). The highest pigeon pea equivalent yield and net returns of Rs. 67814 ha-1 were obtained with broad bed furrow (L1), which was closely followed by treatment L2 (ridges and furrow) with net returns of Rs. 64095 ha-1. Among intercropping systems the highest pigeon pea equivalent yield and net returns of Rs. 68908 ha-1were obtained in pigeonpea+greeengram (2:1) intercropping system and was followed by pigeonpea+blackgram and pigeonpea+soybean intercropping system.