Abstract

A study was carried out at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (during kharif, 1977) to find out the effect of intercropping and P fertilization on the nutrient depletion pattern in rainfed pigeonpea, Pigeonpea as a base crop was raised in solid stand and with inter crops viz., sorghum, pearlmillet, blackgram and coriander under three levels of P fertilization (0, 25 and 50 kg P,O,/ha). Intercropping did not interfere with the total nutrient depletion of pigeonpea per unit area very much. Pigeonpea-pearlmillet intercropping system was found disadvantageous because of mu- tual competition Uptake of N, P and K by pigeonpes was more when intercropped with blackgram. The available N in the post-harvest soil was also moro in this com bination. P fertilization influenced the NPK uptake by pigeonpes. Nutrient uptake was sig nificantly improved by application of 25 kg P,0./ha ovor no P in all the intercropping systems. This suggests that P application is essential for proper growth and develop. ment of pigeonpea in a medium P soil.

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