Promotion of pulses through Intercropping in kharif season
Mr. U. C. BoraJoint Director (Pulses) & SNO-NFSM
Directorate of Agriculture, AssamKhanapara, Guwahati-22
Types of IntercroppingMixed intercropping: Two or more crops
simultaneously grown with no distinct row arrangement
Row intercropping: Two or more crops simultaneously grown where one or more crops are planted in rows
Continued
Types of IntercroppingStrip intercropping: Two or more crops
simultaneously grown in strips; wide enough to permit independent cultivation but narrow enough for crop interaction
Relay intercropping: Two or more crops simultaneously grown during the part of the life cycle of each. 2nd crop planted after the 1st crop has reached reproductive stage, before it is ready for harvest.
Advantages of intercropping• Better use of resources (light/nutrient/water)
• Suppression of weeds
• Yield stability & fetch income even if one crop fails due to unforeseen situations
• Higher equivalent yields (yield of base crop + intercrop), high cropping intensity
• Reduced pest & disease incidences
• Soil health & agro-eco system improved
Area under kharif Pulses in Assam, 2013-14
Major kharif Pulses Area coverage Production
ha % MT %
Total Pulses 150069 - 104312 -
Blackgram (Urd) 54001 35.9 31319 30.0
Greengram (Mung) 12184 8.1 7807 7.5
Pigeonpea (Arhar) 6130 4.1 5642 5.4
Recommended Technologies for Intensive Intercropping in Assam
UBV Zone• Sugarcane + Cowpea• Pigeonpea + Ginger/Turmeric
CBV Zone• Brinjal + French bean
Hill Zone• Rice (DS) + Blackgram/Greengram• Pigeonpea + Sesamum/Blackgram/Greengram• Rice (DS) + Greengram/Blackgram (2:1)
Intercropping with Sesame • Sesame (var. ST-1683) + Greengram (var. Pratap)
@ 2:2 row ratio• Sesame (var. ST-1683) + Blackgram (var. Pant U 19)
@ 1:1 row ratio
Both systems produce 13-14q/ha of Sesame Equivalent Yield (SEY) with C:B ratio 3-4/RupeeCrop sown in Aug15-Sep15 in drylands in Assam
Under proposal for recommendation in Package of Practices for Kharif (Source: AAU, 2015)
• Ginger + Pigeonpea (Local cultivar/variety, Long duration, sown in April-May)
• Pigeonpea + Greengram @ 2:2 row ratio, spaced at 75 cm in 20% hill slopes significantly increase Pigeonpea Equivalent Yield (PEY) compared to sole pigeonpea
Under proposal for recommendation in Package of Practices for Kharif (Source: AAU, 2015)
Intercropping with/of Pigeonpea
Intercropping of Pulses with Maize• Growth rhythm constitutes a kingpin so far as
success of intercropping system is concerned.• Pulses in an intercropping system may be a right
way to increase sustainable production.• Maize offers reasonable inter-row spaces.• Profitably be utilized for raising short duration &
adaptable cultivars of pulses like Greengram.• Efficiency of resource utilization is enhanced.• Nutrient & water requirement compatibility be
worked out with population & growth rhythm.
Relay cropping of Pulses• Relay cropping of pulses is a common practice in
Assam.
• Kharif rice is followed by Rabi pulses like Fieldpea, Lathyrus and Lentil.
• Seeds of pulses are sown in standing rice fields 10-15 days ahead of harvesting of rice.
• Soil moisture in rice fields helps in germination and initial crop establishment of pulses