Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at the Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu during kharif and rabi seasons of 2000-2003 under rainfed condition. The treatments included raising greengram or cowpea for vegetable/grain purpose and utilization of haulms as fodder as well for incorporation alongwith fallow (no pulse crop). For the second season crop of finger millet, the above treatments were kept as main plot treatments with the subplot treatments of either transplanting or direct sowing of finger millet with and without phosphorus. Results of the study revealed that maximum green fodder production and yield were obtained in cowpea as compared to greengram. In succeeding finger millet crop, higher grain and straw yield and net return were obtained when cowpea was incorporated in the early season followed by transplanting of finger millet with P application.

Keywords: Legumes, Finger millet, Relay cropping, Phosphorus, Yield, Net return, B:C ratio.