Effect of Sequential Intercropping Systems and Integrated Nutrient Management on Nutrient Uptake of Pigeonpea

Abstract

An experiment was carried out during kharif and rabi seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21 at ARI, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad to quantify the effect of integrated nutrient management and pigeonpea based sequential intercropping systems on nutrient uptake of the pigeonpea. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (Factorial) with two factors i.e., one with six levels of sequential intercropping systems of pigeonpea (S1 to S6) and other with two levels of nutrient management practices (N1 and N2 - an integrated approach). Nutrient uptake viz., nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium uptakes of pigeonpea crop (grain, stalk and total) was found by using dry matter production and respective nutrient contents at harvesting stage. Sole pigeonpea (S1) recorded significantly higher mean grain, stalk and total nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium uptake as compared to all other sequential inter cropping systems (S3, S4, S5 and S6) and was statistically at par with S2. The minimum mean grain, stalk and total nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium uptake was recorded in treatments with sequential intercropping in paired row pigeonpea + sweet corn – safflower (S6) and paired row pigeonpea + sweet corn – chickpea (S5) and they were on par with each other. Based on the foregoing findings, it can be inferred that providing nutrients via an integrated method (N2) rather than fertilisers alone (N1) increases nutrient availability and, as a result, nutrient uptake.