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

Sesame + Blackgram/Greengram

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)

IntercroppingGinger + Pigeonpea

Pigeonpea + Greengram

• 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

Maize + Greengram

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.

Ricebean as relay in early stage of Maize

Greengram sown relay with Maize

Grengram sown in Maize before flowering

Grengram sown in Maize at maturity

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

Relay cropping

Rice + Lathyrus

Lathyrus sown as relay in kharif Paddy

Lathyrus as relay crop with kharif Paddy

Relay cropping

Rice + Fieldpea

Fieldpea as relay crop with kharif Paddy

Fieldpea sown as relay in kharif Paddy

Relay cropping

Rice + Lentil

Lentil sown as relay in kharif Paddy

Thank you