Effect of millet intercropping systems and integrated nutrient management on growth, yield attributes and yield of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2023-24 and 2024-25 at experiment farm of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Warangal, Telangana on sandy loam soils, to study the effect of integrated nutrient management practices on pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.)] based millet intercropping systems. The treatments comprised four intercropping systems of pigeonpea sole, pigeonpea + finger millet, pigeonpea + foxtail millet and pigeonpea + browntop millet with different integrated nutrient management levels. On the basis of 2 year results, it is found that pigeonpea sole recorded significantly higher plant height, number of branches plant-1, drymatter accumulation ha-1, number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1 and seed yield of pigeonpea over the other intercropping systems. Higher pigeonpea equivalent yield was recorded from pigeonpea + finger millet intercropping system over the other cropping systems at harvest. Among the INM practices, application of 125% RDN (recommended dose of nitrogen) through inorganic fertilizers recorded significantly higher growth, yield attributes, pigeonpea yield and pigeonpea equivalent yield over 100% RDN through inorganic fertilizers, 75% RDN through inorganic fertilizers + 25% RDN through poultry manure and 75% RDN through inorganic fertilizers + 25% RDN through urban compost which were on par with each other.