Frontline demonstration of intercropping of maize + redgram (8:1) in rain fed areas for higher yield and income in central dry zone of Karnataka

Introduction

Globally maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the important cereal crops. In India, it ranks third after rice and wheat. Maize is the major source of starch and is cultivated mainly in the Western Hemisphere; it is widely used as animal feed. In India, it is grown on an area of 11.5 million ha with a production of 42.22 million tons and with a productivity of 3740 kg ha ⁻1 (Anon.2023). In Karnataka, maize is grown on an area of 1.91 million ha with a production of 6.88 million tons and a productivity of 3160 kg ha ⁻1 (Anon., 2023). Red gram (Cajanus cajan L. Mill sp.) is an important foodlegume and pulse crop of India. In India, Red gram occupies an area of 5.05 million ha, with the production of 4.34 million tonnes and an average productivity of 804-861 kg ha ⁻1 (Anon.2025). Karnataka occupies an area of 1.3 million ha with a production of 1.1 million tonnes and productivity of 640 to 780 kg ha ⁻1 . The intercropping technology is an age old technology where farmers will grow two or more crops on the same piece of land. Pulses play a very important role in maintaining soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen through bio fertilizers viz., Rhizobium ssp. with symbiotic relationship. The intercropping concept mainly focuses on getting increased total productivity per unit area and time, utilisation of the farming critical input like fertilisers, labour and of land resources in rainfed farming. Maize crop is usually sown in the month of June along with Red gram which is a climate resilient technology. The intercropping system is best for the rainfed areas where there will be a single crop. The land will remain fallow if we grow maize as a sole crop during the kharif and, in order to utilise the land resources effectively, intercropping is the best option.

Materials and Methods

The present investigation of frontline demonstrations (FLDs) on Intercropping of Maize + Redgram was conducted by ICAR-Taralabalu Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Davanagere in villages namely Guttidurga and Kalledevarapura of Jagalur taluk, Davangere district of Karnataka state during the kharif season of 2024-25, and 2025-26 respectively. The demonstration of intercropping technology with integrated crop management practices (ICM) conducted in an area of 10 ha every year in two locations against the intercropping with non-integrated crop management practices as a check. 50 demonstrations were conducted in an area of 20 ha with active participation of the farmers and farm women to demonstrate the improved production technology in intercropping of maize + redgram www.extensionjournal.com in selected villages to increase the production and expand the area in the district with good agriculture practices. The demonstration ICM practices technology and farmers practice Non-ICM technology were given in Table 1. The soil type of the selected villages was red and sandy loam. Farmers were trained to follow the package of practices for intercropping system of Maize + Redgram as recommended by the Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agriculture and Horticulture Sciences, Shivamogga. Pre sowing off campus training programs were organised with selected farmers for demonstration. The red gram variety selected for intercropping with maize was TS-3R, which is resistant to wilt and medium duration variety. Critical inputs along with technologies like seed treatment with bio fertilisers, organic and inorganic fertilizer application, Micro nutrient application and spraying of water soluble fertilisers (13:00:45, and pulse Magic) water and weed management, integrated pest and disease management etc., were demonstrated at every stage of the crop with suitable trainings and method demonstrations.(Table .

Results and Discussion Maize Equivalent yield (MEY)

The percent increase in MEY in demonstration (ICM) over farmers practice (Non-ICM) was 8.34 and 16.80 during the years 2024 and 2025 respectively with an average increase of 12.57%. (Table . 2). The highest MEY of 73.25 qha⁻¹ was recorded in demonstration plot during the year 2024-25 as against 67.61qha⁻¹ in farmers practice (Table 3). During the year 2025-26, the demonstration plot recorded the yield of 67.61 qha⁻¹ with farmer practice of 55.22 qha -1 . Similar results in maize + red gram intercropping system were reported by Kheroar S et al. (2014) [4] and Thimmegowda (2012) [8] . With all the best improved technologies the average yield of the MEY under demonstration plot recorded 70.43 qha⁻¹ in comparison with 60.03 qha⁻¹ in farmers practice (Table 2). The different yield levels observed in the different years are mainly due to climatic factors such as rainfall, temperature, soil conditions, pest and diseases which influence the crop growth. The test weight of Red gram in demonstration plot was 12.65 and 11.93 over the farmer practice plots that recorded 12.32 and 10.89 during the years 2024 and 2025 respectively. Similar trends were found in the study conducted on intercropping by Shivakumar M. et al., (2020) [7] . The average incidence of fall army worm in maize in demonstration plots were 5.20 and 4.77 over the farmers practice, which observed 11.78 and 7.28 which were found to differ significantly over the years of demonstrations. The same trend was also observed in the redgram crop with pod borer incidence recording the 6.75 and 6.70 in demonstration plots as against 16.28 and 10.98 in farmer practices during the years (

Economics:

The average gross return and net return of ₹ 165078 ha⁻¹ and ₹ 77910 ha⁻¹ were recorded for two years in demonstration plot (ICM). The highest gross return and net return of ₹ 175811 ha⁻¹ and ₹ 94495 ha⁻¹ were recorded during the year 2024. Benefit cost ratio of 2.17 and 1.67 recorded in demonstration for the year 2024 and 2025 respectively. Similar trends were also observed by Thimmegowda (2012) [8] . (Table 4). In farmer's practice, the average gross return (₹ 146840 ha⁻¹), net returns (₹ 58868 ha⁻¹) and B:C ratio (1.68) were recorded (Shivakumar M. et al., (2020) [7] . The difference in the net returns and B:C ratio varies mainly due to fluctuation in the market price of Maize and cost of critical inputs. The additional returns obtained in the demonstration are mainly due to high yielding varieties, Seed treatment with bio fertilizers, use of pulse magic at the time of 50% flowering, installation of pheromone traps and effective management of FAW and pod borer incidences.

References

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