Effect of Planting Pattern, Fertilizer Levels and Weed Management Practices on System Productivity and Economics of Pigeonpea-Based Intercropping System

The experiment was conducted during kharif 2021-22 at Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, a campus of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar. The primary objective was to assess how different planting pattern, in addition with the varying fertilizer levels along with weed management practices, affected the growth and physiological characteristics of pigeon pea under pigeon pea based intercropping system. The study was laid down by using factorial randomized block design with 2 intercropping systems, 3 fertilizer levels and 4 weed management practices, each replicated three times to reduce the experimental error. The study's results highlighted that all the intercropping system in both the planting pattern recorded significantly higher net return and B:C ratio than sole pigeon pea. Among the intercropping systems, paired row planting of pigeon pea (45 cm) in 2:2 row ratio significantly recorded maximum growth, yield attributes and yield, net return and B:C ratio than their intercropping with pigeon pea in normal planting pattern (60 cm) in 1:1 row ratio and pigeon pea + soybean in both planting pattern. Although, growth, yield and economics increased significantly with subsequent increase in fertilizer levels and recorded higher values up to 100% RDF. Weed management practices recorded significantly higher plant height, yield indices, grain yield, net return and B:C ratio than weedy check. Among weed management practices, hand weeding twice recorded significantly higher growth and yield attributes, fruiting efficiency, grain yield and net return than combined application of imazethapyr with quizalofop ethyl and pre-plant incorporation of chlorimuron ethyl fb imazathapyr except number of pods/plant, fruiting efficiency and net return with combined application of imazethapyr + quizalofop ethyl. However, significantly higher B:C ratio was associated with combined application of imazethapyr + quizalofop ethyl. Application of 50% RDF in weed management practices produced significantly higher pigeon pea yield than application of 100% RDF in weedy check. Hence, 50% RDF could be saved by adopting the weed management practices in pigeon pea.