Crop Proportion and Fertility Management Influence Canopy Development and Productivity of Pearl Millet-Green Gram Intercropping

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of pearl millet-green gram intercropping proportion and graded fertility levels on crop growth, physiological traits and productivity of the component crops. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications and comprised four intercropping treatments in the main plots, viz., sole pearl millet, sole green gram, pearl millet + green gram in 2:1 and 2:2 row proportions, and five fertility levels in the subplots (control, 50% recommended dose of fertiliser (RDF), 75% RDF, 100% RDF and 125% RDF). Growth and yield data collected according to standard procedures were subjected to analysis of variance. The results revealed that intercropping significantly influenced pearl millet plant population, leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll content, tillers plant-1 and grain yield. Pearl millet grain yield was highest under sole cropping (1997 kg ha-1) and declined to 1809 and 1551 kg ha-1 under 2:1 and 2:2 intercropping, respectively. Green gram grain yield was 953 kg ha-1 under sole cropping and 308 and 455 kg ha-1 under 2:1 and 2:2 intercropping, respectively. In contrast, increasing fertility progressively enhanced canopy development, chlorophyll content and yield attributes of both crops. Pearl millet grain yield increased from 1440 kg ha-1 under the control to 2020 kg ha-1 under 125% RDF, while green gram yield increased from 466 to 632 kg ha-1. However, grain yield at 100% RDF (1955 kg ha-1 in pearl millet and 620 kg ha-1 in green gram) was statistically comparable with that at 125% RDF. The competition ratio indicated greater competitive ability of pearl millet than green gram, although increasing the green gram proportion from 2:1 to 2:2 improved its competitive position. Overall, crop proportion regulated the competitive balance and component-crop productivity, whereas fertility primarily improved crop growth and yield formation.