Growth, yield, yield indices and system productivity of Pigeonpea as influenced by pigeonpea-based intercropping system in eastern dry zone of Karnataka

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif, 2020 at 'K' Block, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Gandhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bengaluru and studied the growth attributes, yield attributes, yield and yield indices of pigeonpea as influenced by pigeonpea-based intercropping system in Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka. The experiment had 15 treatments which were replicated thrice in Randomised Complete Block Design. Treatments consisted of sole crops pigeonpea and sole crop of intercrops tried (field bean, vegetable soybean and chia) and intercrops in different row proportions of (1:2, 1:3 and 1:4). The results revealed that, among the different planting geometries. Sole paired row pigeonpea at 120/60 cm spacing recorded significantly higher plant height (151.7 cm), number of primary (9.92) and secondary branches (6.5) at harvest. Among planting geometry and intercropping systems, higher number of pods (137.3), pod yield (107.9 g plant-1), seed yield (42.5 g plant-1), stalk yield (225.6 g plant-1), shelling percentage (69.7%) and test weight (12.1 g) was observed in paired row (120/60 cm × 30 cm) of sole pigeonpea. Among different planting geometry and intercropping system, higher seed yield, stalk yield and harvest index (1813 kg ha-1, 4218 kg ha-1 and 0.307, respectively) was observed in paired row (120/60 cm × 30 cm) of sole pigeonpea compared to other treatments.