Role of In-situ Moisture Conservation and Cropping Systems on Maize Intercropping with Pigeonpea under Rainfed Conditions at Telangana State

D. Sravanthi *

Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College (Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University), Aswaraopet, Bhadradri - Kothagudem District, Telangana State - 507 301, India.

Y. Siva Lakshmi

College of Agricultural Engineering (Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University), Kandi, Sanga Reddy District, Telangana State - 502 285, India.

R. Susheela

Agricultural College (Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University), Palem, Nagarkurnool District, Telangana State - 509 215, India.

A. V. Ramanjaneyulu

Agriculture Research Station (Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University), Tornala, Siddipet District, Telangana State - 502 114, India.

N. Sainath

Agriculture Research Station (Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University), Tornala, Siddipet District, Telangana State - 502 114, India.

P. Raghu Rami Reddy

Rice Research Centre, Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar (Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University), Hyderabad, Telangana State - 500 030, India.

P. Jagan Mohan Rao

Regional Agricultural Research Station (Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University), Jagtial, Telangana State - 505 529, India.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

The study was conducted with an objective of assessing best practice of moisture conservation and profitability of the cropping system. The experiment was executed at Agricultural Research Station, Tornala, Siddipet (Dt), Telangana State for three years (kharif, 2016 - kharif, 2018). The trial was laid out in split plot design with three cropping systems as main plots Viz., sole maize (SM), maize + pigeon pea in 4: 1 ratio (MP) and sole pigeon pea (SP) and three sub plots were allotted with moisture conservation practices viz., ridge and furrow (RF), flatbed followed by making ridge at 25DAS (FBR) and flatbed followed by making conservation furrow at 25 DAS (FBCF) along with regular farmers practice, flatbed method (FB).The results revealed that, among different cropping systems sole pigeon pea (SP) recorded significantly higher maize equivalent yields and net returns (4340 kg ha-1and Rs.33926 ha-1) compared to sole maize (SM) (3268 kg ha-1 and Rs.15366 ha-1) and maize+ pigeon pea intercropping in1:4 ratio (MP) (4080 kg ha-1and Rs.25786 ha-1), whereas in case of moisture conservation methods ridge and furrow method (RF) recorded significantly higher maize equivalent yields in kg ha-1 (4253 kg ha-1and1Rs.26752 ha-1) followed by flatbed fb making conservation furrow at 25 DAS (FBCF) (4247 kg ha-1and Rs.30,042 ha-1) compared flatbed fb making ridges at 25 DAS (FBR) and flat bed. Ridge and furrow method could save more (26%) soil moisture among all the methods followed in the study.

Keywords: Maize, pigeon pea, rainfed cropping system, moisture conservation, equivalent yields


How to Cite

Sravanthi, D., Y. Siva Lakshmi, R. Susheela, A. V. Ramanjaneyulu, N. Sainath, P. Raghu Rami Reddy, and P. Jagan Mohan Rao. 2021. “Role of In-Situ Moisture Conservation and Cropping Systems on Maize Intercropping With Pigeonpea under Rainfed Conditions at Telangana State”. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change 11 (12):544-51. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2021/v11i1230618.