Growth and Resource Use of Maize, Pigeonpea and Maize/Pigeonpea Intercrop in an Operational Research Watershed

Abstract

SUMMARYGrowth and interception of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) in a maize/pigeonpea intercrop and sole maize and sole pigeonpea crops grown in large plots in an operational research watershed at ICRISAT research centre were compared. Growth and yield of the maize crop, in pure stands and in intercrop, were not significantly different. Efficiency of dry matter production, calculated from the relations between dry matter production and cumulative intercepted PAR, was highest for the maize/pigeonpea intercrop, followed by sole maize and sole pigeon-pea, proving the utility of such intercrops in making better use of resources in the Semi-Arid Tropics (SAT).