Intercropping of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) with greengram (Phaseolus radiahs) under varying levels of fertility and plant population and its residual effect on succeeding wheat (Triticum aestivum)

An experiment was conducted during 1988-89 and 1989-90 at Bichpuri, lu -.ess the feasibility of uniform planting of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] intercropped with greengram (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) undef varying levels of fertility and plant population. Uniform planting of pigeonpea at 60 cm apart rows intercropped with pengram at optimum plant population and recommended fertilization (30 kg Nlha + 60 kg P,O,/ha for pigeonpea and 20 kg N/ha + 40 kg P,O,/ha for greengram) separately drilled gave higher grain yield (15.44 qlha pigeonpea + 8.30 /ha greengram) than either sole pigeonpea (16.84 ql ha) or greengram (8.92 qiha) or rest of the intercropping systems followed. Application of fertilizer drilled separately, by and large, proved advantageous over the fertilizer mixed together for both crops in intercrop- ping system. Higher land-equivalent ratio (1.85) also further established the superiority of former intercrop- ping system. Intercropping of pigeonpea with greengram appreciably increased the wheat yield (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) over the yield obtained after pigeonpea sole.