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Influence of Intercropping Minor Millets on Growth and Yield of Summer Irrigated Cotton

Author: Prasannasreenithi, S.R. Veeraputhiran, A. Gurusamy, G. Anand and P. Kannan

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Abstract

The wider interspace available with cotton husbandry can be effectively used by intercropping with short duration millets to enhance the input use efficiency and sustainability. Due to slow growth of cotton and weeds challenges the cotton growth and reduced the yield. In addition, higher input with labour cost lead to reduce economic benefits of cotton cultivation. To overcome the challenges intercropping is having enormous potential. Field experiment was conducted at Central farm, Department of Agronomy, Agriculture College and Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India during summer, March–August 2023 to study the feasibility of minor millet intercropping in cotton. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with ten treatments and were replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of intercropping of barnyard millet, foxtail millet and finger millet at 1:1 ratio under normal geometry (T1, T3, T3), 2:2 ratio under paired row system (T4, T5, T6) and at 1:3 ratio under replacement series (T7, T8, T9) along with cotton sole cropping as control (T10). The results revealed that, among the intercropping system, plant height was higher in (T4) cotton + barnyard millet at 2:2 ratio and LAI was recorded higher in cotton + foxtail millet at 1:3 ratio (T8). Cotton + foxtail millet at 2:2 (T5) obtained higher dry matter production and also seed cotton yield. The maximum cotton equivalent yield (3061 kg ha-1) was recorded in cotton intercropped with barnyard millet at 2:2 ratio under paired row system (90/60 × 30 cm).

Keywords

Cotton, minor millets, plant height, LAI, DMP, seed cotton yield and cotton equivalent yield

Conclusion

It can be concluded from the study that intercropping of barnyard millet at 2:2 ratio under paired row system of cotton can be recommended as viable intercropping system for cotton farmers.

References

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How to cite this article

Prasannasreenithi, S.R. Veeraputhiran, A. Gurusamy, G. Anand and P. Kannan (2023). Influence of Intercropping Minor Millets on Growth and Yield of Summer Irrigated Cotton. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(9): 370-373.