Effect of pigeonpea transplanting on growth, yield and economics in sole and finger millet intercropping system under late sown conditions

The experiment was conducted at Zonal Agricultural Research Station (ZARS), Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra (GKVK), Bengaluru under rainfed situation during 2008–10. The soil of the experimental site was red sandy clay loam (Alfisol) with the pH and electrical conductivity of 6.5–6.8 and 0.2 dS/m respectfully. The soil was low in organic carbon (0.42%) and available N (202.9 kg/ha) and medium in available P (28.8 kg/ha) and available K (201.8 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eleven treatments involving transplanting of pigeonpea seedlings at 3, 4 and 5 weeks after sowing as sole and intercrop with finger millet (8:2 ratio) and their various combination. The results revealed that transplanting of 4 to 5 weeks old pigeonpea seedlings in sole crop recorded significantly higher pigeonpea equivalent yield (PEY), net returns and B: C ratio compared to direct sowing of pigeonpea.