Response of Intercropping Finger Millet on Growth and Yield of Pulses

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season in Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P.) India. The current research aims to evaluate the growth and yield of various pulses namely cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), black gram (Vigna mungo L.) and green gram (Vigna radiata L.) and when cultivated as intercrops with finger millet. The soil of the experimental plot was sandy loam in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction (pH 7.6), low in organic carbon (0.51 %), available N (78.9 kg/ha), available P (32.88 kg/ha) and available K (385.10 kg/ha). The treatments consisted of 3 pulse crops (Cowpea, Black gram and green gram) and 3 row ratios (2:1, 4:1 and 6:1). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with 13 treatments and replicated thrice. Maximum plant height and yield attributes was recorded in sole plots of cowpea (treatment 11), Black gram (treatment 12) and Green gram (treatment 13) respectively. Finger millet equivalent yield was recorded high in (treatment 7) where finger millet was intercropped with green gram in 2:1 ratio.