Integrated nutrient management in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajana) 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 integrated nutrient management practices on pigeonpea based intercropping systems. The treatments comprised of two intercropping systems of pigeonpea + pearlmillet (1:2) and pigeonpea + greengram (1:2) with 9 different integrated nutrient management levels. On the basis of 3 years results, pigeonpea + greengram intercropping system recorded significantly higher pigeonpea seed yield (13.75 q ha-1), pigeonpea equivalent yield (17.37 q ha-1), gross returns (Rs. 31273 ha-1), net returns (Rs. 22546 ha-1) and B:C ratio (3.59) over pigeonpea + pearlmillet intercropping system (13.26 q ha-1, 15.76 q ha-1, Rs. 28365 ha- 1, Rs. 19838 ha-1 and 3.34, respectively). Among the INM practices, application of 50 per cent RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1 recorded significantly higher pigeonpea yield (15.72 q ha-1), pigeonpea equivalent yield (19.36 q ha-1), gross returns (Rs. 34849 ha-1) and net returns (Rs. 24506 ha-1) over other INM practices and it was found to be on par with application of phosphocompost @ 2.5 t ha-1 + 50% RDF