Performance of seed crop of prickly sesban or dhaincha (Sesbania aculeate) when intercropped with Pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2010 and 2011 at Hisar, to evaluate the intercropping of pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] in prickly sesban or dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) grown for seed. Yield of dhaincha was not affected by sowing it at 60 or 45 cm row spacing. Among intercropping systems in spite of 11.6% reduction in dhaincha seed yield compared with sole crop at 45 cm spacing, the highest Sesbania seed yield (0.92 t/ha) along with an additional pearl millet yield of 0.74 t/ha was obtained with 1:1 row ratio of Sesbania and pearlmillet at 45 cm spacing. Two rows of pearlmillet in between Sesbania sown at 120 cm spacing was found best not only for pearlmillet but also for maximum land-equivalent ratio (1.38), highest competition ratio (2.75), maximum monetary advantage index (7,048/ha), maximum system productivity index (1.49 t/ha), highest Sesbania (1.38 t/ha) equivalent yield, highest net returns of 10,768/ha and maximum benefit: cost of 1.39. Hence for seed production Sesbania be sown at 120 cm spacing intercropped with 2 rows of pearlmillet to supplement the income of farmers.