Effects of spacing,row arrangement and Genotype on grain yield of Pigeonpea(Cajanus Cajan(L)Millsp) intercropped with Sorgum
Files
Date
2011-03-16
Authors
Swai, Nsengo Mohammed Adam
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
An experiment was conducted at UNZA and ZAMSEED farms in
Lusaka Zambia, during the 1994/95 season to study the effects of
spacing, row arrangement and genotype on the grain yield of
Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp) intercropped with Sorghum
(Sorghum bicolor).
A split-split plot design was used with genotypes [Short Duration
(SD) and Medium Duration (MD)] as sub-subplots, spacings (70 cm
x 30 cm; 60 cm x 40 cm; 50 cm x 50 cm) as the sub-plot and the
row arrangements (1:1 and 2:1)as main plots.
Sorghum (KUYUMA cv.) was planted in single and double rows 20 cm
apart and the within row spacing of 50 cm. Recommended basal
fertilizer application of 30 kg N ha"1 and 8 kg P ha"1 were
applied by broadcasting at planting. Other husbandry practices
were also timely ensured.
Due to prolonged terminal moisture stress which coincided with
flowering stage, the medium duration genotype failed to produce
grains therefore omitted in the results. Increased spacing led
to a decline (r= -0.487) in the grain yield of pigeonpea, but had
no effect (r= 0.196) on grain yield of sorghum. The 70 cm x 30
cm spacing gave the highest overall productivity (LER = 1.4) .
The combination of 1:1 row arrangement and a spacing of 70 cm x
30 cm gave the highest grain yield (519 kg ha"1) of pigeonpea; in
contrast to the combination of. 2:1 row arrangement and a spacing
of 50 cm x 50 cm that gave the highest yield (4667 kg ha^1) of
sorghum. The best combination of row arrangement and spacing was
1:1 and 60 cm x 40 cm which gave an overall productivity of
LER=1.85. The fact that all the intercrop treatments had
relatively higher LER (1.07-1.85), signify that pigeonpea/sorghum
intercropping was more advantageous than monocropping of either
of the two crops. On average, the pigeonpea/sorghum intercropping
system provided 103% of the equivalent yield of sorghum and 43%
of the sole pigeonpea. Effects of row arrangement of yield
components of pigeonpea revealed that the control gave the
highest branches/plant (15) while 2:1 produced the highest number
of seeds/plant (174). The control also gave the highest 100 seed
weight (15.1 g). For sorghum the 1:1 row arrangement gave the
highest 100 seed weight (4.8 g).
There was no significance difference among the row arrangements
nor among the spacings for pigeonpea height. However, the change
in spacing had a significant (P <. 0.05) effect on the height of
sorghum at 6 weeks after emergence (WAE). Tallest plants for
pigeonpea and sorghum (124.2 cm and 173.6 cm respectively) were
observed in the 2:1 arrangement and 60 cm x 40 cm spacing.
Basing on the results it is concluded that 1:1 arrangement and
VI
70 cm x 30 cm spacing were the most suitable combination for
higher yield of pigeonpea. On the other hand, the 2:1 row
arrangement and 50 cm x 50 cm spacing were the most suitable
combination for increased yield of sorghum. In an intercrop the
best combination for increased productivity was 1:1 row
arrangement and 60 cm x 40 cm spacing.
Though no inference could be drawn on the effect of MD genotype
on the grain yield of the intercrop, more research work on the
same is required to extend to other agro-ecological zones for
verification purpose.
Description
Keywords
Sorghum--Zambia