Why Pulses Are More Suitable in Intercropping System ?

1. Why Pulses Are More Suitable in Intercropping
System ?
AGRN 723 : Agronomy of Major Cereals and Pulses
SUBMITTED TO:
Dr. Vikram Singh
Associate Professor
Department of
Agronomy
NAI,SHUATS
SUBMITTED BY:
Suman Kumar Dey
Id. No: 19MSAGRO070
Department of
Agronomy
M.Sc. Ag.(Agronomy)
II semester 1

2.  Introduction
 Examples of Pulses Intercropping
System
 Why Pulses Are More Suitable in
Intercropping System ?
 Reference
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3. Introduction
Intercropping :
Intercropping is a multiple cropping practice involving growing two
or more crops in proximity. In other words, intercropping is the
cultivation of two or more crops simultaneously on the same field.
The most common goal of intercropping is to produce a greater yield
on a given piece of land by making use of resources or ecological
processes that would otherwise not be utilized by a single crop.
Ex-
 Groundnut + Pigeon pea – 6:1
 Cotton + Urd- 1:1
 Maize/Sorghum + Mung/Urd – 1:1
 Sugarcane +Mung/Urd- 1:1
 Mung/Urd + Banana
 Mung/Urd + Coconut 3

4. Cont…
Principles of intercropping :
 The crops grown in association should have complementary effects
rather competitive effects.
 The subsidiary crop should be of shorter duration and of faster
growing
 Component crops should have similar agronomic practices.
 Erect growing crops should be intercropped with cover crops like
pulses.
 The component crops should have different root depths.
 The planting method and management should be simple, less time
consuming, economical.
 Component crops of similar pests and disease pathogens and
parasite infestations should not be chosen.
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5. Cont…
Types of intercropping :
1. Mixed
2. Row
3. Strip
4. Relay
5. Multistoried
Advantage of intercropping :
Higher income per unit area.
Insurance against failure of
crop.
Maintenance of soil fertility.
Reduced runoff.
Provides shelter to other crops.
Erosion control.
Better control of weeds, pests
and diseases.
Offers best employment and
utilization of labour, machine and
power throughout year.
Ekanayake et. al. (1997)
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6. Why Pulses Are More Suitable in
Intercropping System ?
1. Having deeper and more abundant roots, pulse crops can utilize
greater amounts of water stored deep within the soil and can
withstand drought better than shallow-rooted crops.
Ex-The deep tap root system of pulse crops, such as pigeon peas, make
them more suitable for intercropping with shallow-rooted crops, like
coarse cereals and oilseeds, which are often rain-fed.
2. Pulses can be strategic allies in maintaining and increasing soil
health and restoring degraded soils. They can play an important role
in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, thus contributing to
food security, better nutrition, climate change adaptation and
mitigation and resilience to shocks.
3. As short statured plant it suits very well with other crops without
affecting crop canopy. 6

7. Cont…
4. As short duration crop ( days duration) it matures before the main
crop.
5. There is no overlap in time of peak nutrient demands of
component crops.
Ex- In maize + green gram intercropping system, the peak nutrient
demand period for green gram is around 35 DAS while it is 50 days
for maize.
6. No competition for light minimum among the component crops.
7. It does not compete with other crops. As there is difference in
maturity of component crops is 30 days or more.
8. Not only that in intercropping pulses as help in crop protection.
Ex- Raising one row of cowpea for every five rows of groundnut
wherever red hairy caterpillar is endemic.
9. Utilizes the farm area more efficiently. 7

8. Cont…
10. Results in potential increase of production and farm
profitability when compared to the same crops grown separately.
11. Provides 2 or more different food crops for the farm family in
one cropping season.
Examples of Pulses Intercropping
System
 Recommended cereal–pulse intercropping systems with
different pulses across locations and soil types :
Fig. 1
Praharaj et.al.(2016)8

9. Cont…
 Recommended intercropping systems of oilseed crops with
pulses for different locations :
 Suitable pulse as an intercrop in cotton across locations :
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Praharaj et.al.(2016)
Praharaj et.al.(2016)
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10. Reference
http://ecoursesonline.iasri.res.in
https://slideplayer.com/ Promotion of Pulses Through Intercrop in
Kharif.
http://www.fao.org/pulses-2016
Praharaj C.S. and Blaise D. Intercropping: An approach for area
expansion of pulses, 2016. ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses
Research, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, 61 (4): 113-121.
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