Optimizing Little Millet and Red Gram Mixtures to Improve the System Productivity and Soil Fertility of Rain-Dependent Alfisol of Semi-Arid India

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
K. Pandian 1
S. Kannan 2
V. Mathiyazhagan 3
S. Chitraputhirapillai 4
1 Department of Soils and Environment, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai - 625104, Tamil Nadu, India.
2 Centre of Excellence in Millets, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Athiyandal - 606603, Tamil Nadu, India.
3 Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kudimiyanmalai - 625104, Tamil Nadu, India.
4 Department of Agronomy, Water Technology Center, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641003, Tamil Nadu, India.
10.22034/JAST.27.4.953
Abstract
The vagaries of monsoon rains severely affect the growth and yield of little millet (Panicum sumatrense) in semi-arid India. Continuous sole cultivation of little millet depletes soil nutrients, reduces crop productivity, and fails to ensure a stable income for farmers. A crop mixer is an alternate option to cope with climate variability and sustain soil fertility in the sole crop little millet areas. Among crops, pulse crops are a viable mixer for improving soil fertility, productivity and farmers' net income. Field studies were conducted in 2016, 2017, and 2018 at the Dryland Agricultural Research Station, India. Little millet was raised as the main crop, with red gram intercropped in ratios of 4:1, 6:2, and 8:2. Black gram, moth bean, and horse gram were sequentially cultivated after the little millet harvest. Biometric, yield attributes and yield, soil nutrients and nutrient uptake were measured. Intercropping of little millet and redgram in a 4:1 combination recorded higher grain yield (511 kg ha-1) and straw yield (1632 kg ha-1) of little millet. Similarly, little millet grain equivalent yield and production efficiency were also higher (730 kg ha-1 and 4.5 kg ha-1 d-1) in the 4:1 combination with sequential horse gam. Regarding soil fertility, a 4:1 combination with sequential horse gram resulted in significant nitrogen build-up (157.3 kg. ha-1) and phosphorus (9.7 kg ha-1) and potassium uptake (37.6 kg ha-1). Intercropping red gram with little millet at a 4:1 ratio, followed by sequential planting of horse gram, enhances rainfed little millet pulse productivity and improves soil fertility in semi-arid Alfisol.

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Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Volume 27, Issue 4
July and August 2025
Pages 953-968