Crop Residue Management in Pigeonpea-based Intercropping Systems under Rainfed Conditions

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2005, 2006 and 2007 at Agricultural Research Station, Gulbarga, University of Agricultural Sciences; Dharwad (Karnataka) on shallow black soils to study the effect different crop residues in pigeonpea-based intercropping systems. The treatments comprised of two intercropping systems viz., pigeonpea + pearlmillet and pigeon pea + green gram with 12 different crop residues and fertilizer management. On the basis of 3 year results, pigeonpea + greengram intercropping system recorded significantly higher pigeonpea seed yield (12.11 q/ha), pigeonpea equivalent yield (14.15 q/ha), gross returns (Rs. 34,265/ha), net returns (Rs. 26,154/ha) and B: C ratio (3.21) over pigeonpea + pearlmillet intercropping system (11.37 q/ha, 12.75 q/ha, Rs. 30,616/ha, Rs. 22,667/ha and 2.84, respectively). The seed yield of pigeonpea, pearlmillet and green gram increased significantly due to combined application of crop residues and recommended dose of fertilizers as compared to control. Among the integrated crop residue management practices, application of pigeonpea stalks @ 5 t/ha + 100% RDF recorded significantly higher yield of pigeonpea (13.11 q/ha), pearlmillet (7.53 q/ha), greengram (3.82 q/ha), pigeonpea equivalent yield (15.25 q/ha), gross returns (Rs. 36,773/ha), net returns (Rs. 28,160/ha) and B:C ratio (3.26) over other integrated crop residue management practices, but it was found to be on par with application of sorghum stubbles @ 5 t/ha + 100% RDF, sunflower stalks @ 5 t/ha + 100% RDF and 100% pure RDF only.