Enhancement in the Productivity and Economics of Pearl Millet and Mung Bean Inter Cropping System Through Different Sowing Geometries in Pothwar

Generally, there is subsistence kind of farming in Pothwar Region of Pakistan.The per unit area income of farmers is very low and the soils of this region are very poor.Mostly mono-cropping system is prevailing here.So, the pearl millet and mung bean were selected as test crops to evaluate the intercropping system in this region for the ultimate improvement of the net profitability of the farmers per unit area simultaneously not compromising with the food security and soil health.Different line spacing's (inter and intra strip) i.e., 30, 60 and 90 cm were maintained along with different number of lines of pearl millet and mung bean i.e., 1, 2 and 3 in the form of strips for comparison.The results showed that intercropping significantly reduced density and dry biomass of weeds per unit area.Moreover, the biological yield, grain yield and the harvesting index of pearl millet and mung bean were also affected significantly under different sowing geometries.Both crops growth and yield was increased in the narrow row spacing as compared to wider row spacing, whereas, weed density and biomass was decreased in narrow spacing that may be due to less availability of space and more intra and inter specific competition.Maximum land equivalent ratio (1.8) was found under the plot where alternate strips of three lines of both crops were grown at 30 cm intra and inter strip distance and it was followed by (1.7) in the treatment where single lines of both crops were grown alternately at 30 cm distance.Similarly, the net income of intercropped plots having three lines of both crops grown alternately in the form of strips at 30 cm intra and inter strip spacing, was 116% higher than sole mung bean crop and 56% higher than sole pearl millet crop.Maximum weeds (106.4 m -2 ) were observed in single alternate lines of both crops grown at 90 cm intra and inter strip distance whereas minimum (75.2m - 2 ) in triple lines of both crops grown alternately in the form of strips having 30 cm intra and inter strip distance.Therefore, intercropping of mung bean and pearl millet in the form of strips of three lines having 30 cm intra and inter strip distance is recommended to the farming community of Pothwar Region of Pakistan for taking maximum net returns per unit area per unit time through inter cropping in kharif season.