Effect of Intercropping and Fertility Levels on the Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash Content and Uptake by Summer Pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) under South Gujarat Condition

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at College Agronomy Farm, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during summer, 2019 and 2020 comprising four intercropping treatments i.e. pearlmillet sole, pearlmillet+greengram, pearlmillet+cowpea, pearlmillet+clusterbean and three fertility levels viz., 75 % RDF, 100 % RDF and 125 % RDF. Among the different intercropping system examined, sole pearl millet (I1) accumulated significantly less content of N and P in pearl millet grain and straw as compared to intercropping with pulses treatments. Pearl millet + green gram (I2) recorded significantly higher N and P uptake by pearl millet straw than other intercropping systems. The sole pearl millet (I1) was at par with pearl millet intercropped with green gram (I2) had significantly higher K content and uptake in pearl millet grain and straw. In case of fertility levels, nitrogen and phosphorus content and uptake in pearl millet grain and straw were recorded significantly higher by application of 100 % RDF. Significantly higher N, P and K uptake by pearl millet grain and straw in pooled results were produced by treatment combination of pearl millet + green gram (I2) intercropping along with 75 % RDF (F1).