Performance of foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.) based cropping system for rainfed agro ecosystems in Semi-Arid Tropics of India

A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif seasons of 2020, 2021, and 2022 at the Centre of Excellence in Millets, Athiyandal, Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, to investigate the performance of foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) based cropping system for rainfed agro- ecosystems in the north-eastern agro climatic zone of Tamil Nadu, India. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with 7 treatments, viz., T1: Sole foxtail millet; T2: Foxtail millet + Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) (4:1); T3: Foxtail millet + Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) (6:1); T4: Foxtail millet + Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) (4:1); T5: Foxtail millet + Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) (6:1); T6: Foxtail millet + Niger (Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass) (4:1); T7: Foxtail millet + Niger (Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass) (6:1). Each treatment was replicated three times . High- quality seeds with a high germination percentage, uniform size and freedom from pests, diseases, and weed seeds were used for the experiment viz., foxtail millet (ATL 1), groundnut (VRI 8), sesame (TMV 7), and niger (JNS 28). The results revealed that the foxtail millet and sesame intercropping system in a 4:1 ratio exhibited the highest foxtail millet equivalent yield (2266 kg/ha) along with notable relative production efficiency (10.5%) and relative economic efficiency (18.1%). This study emphasizes the potential for expanding foxtail millet cultivation by integrating intercropping with oilseed crops, thereby contributing to both the area and production of foxtail millet.