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Water Resource Management for Improvising Groundnut Based Intercropping System


Syed Abul Hassan Hussainy, Arivukodi S, Vaidyanathan R
Pages: 63-76
ISBN: 978-93-5834-249-9


Current Innovations in Agronomy (Volume -1)

Current Innovations in Agronomy
(Volume - 1)

Abstract

A Field experiments were conducted at Oilseeds Research Station, Tindivanam during kharif and rabi season of 2017-18 and 2018-19 to evaluate the performance of groundnut based intercropping system as influenced by different levels of irrigation. Experiment were laid out in split plot design with three replications. The main plot treatments (5) comprised of intercropping systems viz., C1-sole groundnut; C2-groundnut + castor (6:1); C3-groundnut + blackgram (6:1); C4-groundnut + sesame (4:1); and C5-groundnut + pearlmillet (4:1). The sub plot treatments (3) based on different irrigation schedule involving I1-IW/CPE 0.50; I2-IW/CPE 0.75; and I3-IW/CPE 1.0 irrigation regimes. Spanish bunch type groundnut cv. TMV (Gn) 13 was used as test crop. For intercrops, compatible variety during kharif and rabi were selected comprising short duration castor cv. TMV 5, blackgram cv. VBN 8, sesame cv. TMV (Sv) 7 and pearlmillet cv. CO (Cu) 10 were used. The data of the two years were pooled with PROC GLM method of SAS software (SAS institute, 1999) considering the years as fixed effects. The pooled data of kharif 2017 and 2018 showed increase in growth parameters viz., plant height, number of branches plant-1, dry matter production in groundnut + blackgram intercropping system. Correspondingly, irrigation scheduling based on IW/CPE 0.75 enhanced the growth parameters of groundnut. Whereas, during rabi 2017-18 and 2018-19 noted similar results favouring groundnut + blackgram combination while, increased growth was noted under IW/CPE 0.50 level of irrigation. The root parameters exhibited less deep, shallow rooting pattern with reduced root volume under groundnut + pearlmillet and groundnut + castor combination during both the seasons and was even aggravated under frequent irrigations at IW/CPE 1.0 irrigation regime. At less frequent irrigation, the root development was compensated by the yielding performance of the crop during kharif season while rabi was not much deviated as the IW/CPE 0.50 matched the optimum level of irrigation. The physiological parameters like leaf area index, crop growth rate, relative growth rate confirmed better performance under groundnut + blackgram combination. Similarly, the days to 50% flowering and days to harvest maturity was earlier for groundnut + blackgram followed by sole groundnut whereas irrigation application at IW/CPE 1.0 reduced the days to maturity of the groundnut as well as the intercrops. The yield attributes and quality parameters like matured pods plant-1, shelling percentage and sound matured kernels were better and enhanced in groundnut + blackgram combination under IW/CPE 0.75 during kharif and IW/CPE 0.50 during rabi season of cultivation. The pooled data of kharif 2017 and 2018 varied from 1123 kg ha-1 to 2170 kg ha-1 where higher pod yield was noted under sole groundnut due to higher plant population coupled with irrigation scheduling at IW/CPE 0.75 while groundnut + pearlmillet yielded lesser at IW/CPE 0.50 irrigation regime. The data of per plant yield revealed groundnut + blackgram as better combination at IW/CPE 0.75 (7.25 g plant-1) followed by IW/CPE 1.0 (6.77 g plant-1) and sole groundnut with irrigation scheduling at IW/CPE 1.0 (6.51 g plant-1). The pooled data of rabi 2017-18 and 2018-19 exhibited a similar trend of intercropping system under irrigation at IW/CPE 0.50 registering an outgrowth of 7.10 per cent over IW/CPE 0.75 and 26.4 per cent over irrigation scheduling at IW/CPE 1.0. Further the data observed a slight decrease in yield from kharif to rabi season possibly due to exhaustive cultivation. Increased nutrient uptake of nitrogen was recorded in groundnut + blackgram followed by sole groundnut system and was observed that the same combination resulted in higher soil balance due to symbiotic nitrogen fixation as a result of higher nodules present whereas nutrients like phosphorus and potassium were negatively correlated with the crop nutrient uptake to the soil available balance. Total biological property of the soil under the cropping system resulted higher and was noted that frequent irrigation facilitated better growth of microorganisms prevalent in the soil. During earlier stages of groundnut higher light interception under groundnut + pearlmillet was noted which was at par with groundnut + castor system while sole groundnut system was at par with groundnut + blackgram registering minimum light interception. At later stages, after harvest of intercrops like blackgram, sesame and pearlmillet higher light interception on groundnut was observed when intercropped with castor with as high as 42.2 and 40.5 per cent at kharif and rabi seasons, respectively. Consumptive water use based on the water requirement of both the crops in the system was higher under groundnut + pearlmillet at par with groundnut + castor system while groundnut + blackgram recorded lower consumptive water use which was at par with sole groundnut. Among different irrigation schedules adopted, IW/CPE 0.50 recorded the lesser consumptive water use at par with IW/CPE 0.75 level of irrigation. The water use efficiency and water productivity revealed significant increase under groundnut + blackgram system during both kharif and rabi seasons, whereas frequent irrigations at 100 per cent Epan values significantly reduced water use efficiency together with water productivity. Intercropping with pearlmillet or castor or sesame did not realize better output from unit water consumed in the system. Bio-economic indices like groundnut equivalent yield, land equivalent ratio as well as relative production efficiency showed better yielding ability under groundnut + blackgram combination over the sole crop while lower performance was noted under other intercropping systems. Irrigation scheduling IW/CPE 0.75 for kharif and IW/CPE 0.50 for rabi also played a key role in realizing higher outputs. Further, competitive indices like relative crowding coefficient, aggressivity and price equivalent ratio stressed on the compatibility of groundnut with tested intercrops like pearlmillet, castor and sesame promoting negative interaction in the systems eventually attaining inferior yields. The economics highlighted groundnut + blackgram as the remunerative system under IW/CPE 0.75 with net returns of Rs. 86,704 ha-1 coupled with benefit cost ratio of 3.00 during kharif season followed by realization of net return to the tune of Rs. 83,183 ha-1 with benefit cost ratio of 3.03 during rabi season. From the above results, it could be concluded that groundnut + blackgram intercropping system is best suited when supplied with nine irrigations (incl. sowing and life irrigation) at an interval of fourteen days during kharif or six irrigations (incl. sowing and life irrigation) at an interval of twenty days during rabi resulted in higher groundnut yield and equivalent yield with increased water use efficiency increasing the monetary returns from the system in the entisols (sandy clay loam) belonging to Tindivanam series of Tamil Nadu.

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