Assessing the effect of intercropping ratios on growth characteristics of barnyard millet (Echinochloa esculenta L.) and black gram (Vigna mungo L.)

A field trial entitled “To study suitable Planting pattern, growth and yield of Barnyard millet (Echinochloa esculenta L.) + Black gram (Vigna mungo L.) intercropping system”, was conducted during Kharif 2023 at All India Co- Ordinated Research Project on Dryland Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications and seven treatments. Treatments comprised viz. T1 - Sole Barnyard millet, T2 - Sole Black gram, T3 - Barnyard millet + Black gram (1:1), T4 - Barnyard millet + Black gram (2:1), T5 - Barnyard millet + Black gram (3:2), T6 - Barnyard millet + Black gram (2:2), T7 - Barnyard millet + Black gram (3:3). The barnyard millet variety used was DHBM-47-3, and the black gram variety was TAU-1. The results showed that growth-related traits such as plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, dry matter accumulation, number of tillers and number of branches were highest in the Barnyard millet + Black gram (2:1) intercropping system. This was followed by the Barnyard millet + Black gram (3:2) combination. The lowest values for these traits were observed in the sole crops of Barnyard millet and Black gram.