RESPONSE OF PIGEONPEA(CAJANUS CAJAN) + MUNGBEAN (PHASEOLUS RADIATUS) INTERCROPPING SYSTEM TO PHOSPHORUS AND BIOFERTILIZERS

A field investigation was carried out during the kharif season of 2005-06 and 2006-07. Present study revealed that inter cropping of mungbean did not show adverse effect on the growth attributes, yield attributes and yield of pigeonpea. Phosphorus application @ 40 and 80 kg P2O5/ha and seed inoculation with Rhizobium and Rhizobium + Phosphorus Solubalizing Bacteria (PSB) significantly improved growth and yield attributes and grain yield of pigeonpea and pigeonpea + mungbean inter-cropping system. Cropping system (intercropping) markedly recorded higher pigeonpea equivalent yield (1451 and 1751 kg/ha) over sole pigeonpea (1235 and 1476 kg/ha) in both the years, respectively. The intercropping of mungbean in pigeonpea did not affect grain yield of pigeonpea (1194 and 1443 kg/ha) and instead gave an additional grain yield of mungbean (237 and 256 kg/ha). This additional grain yield of mungbean along with pigeonpea grain yield significantly produced higher pigeonpea equivalent yield (1451 and 1719 kg/ha) over sole pigeonpea as well as sole mungbean. The pigeonpea + mungbean intercropping system recorded significantly higher organic carbon in soil over sole pigeonpea. The phosphorus applied to crops markedly enhanced organic carbon, available P and K content of soil after the harvest of pigeonpea and mungbean.