Studies on genetic diversity in chilli (Capsicum annum L.) for drought toleranceand yield attributing traitsEvaluation of productivity and profitability of millet and oilseed intercropping systems inthe northern dry zone of Karnataka

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at AICRP for Dryland Agriculture, Regional Agricultural Research Station,Vijayapura, Karnataka to evaluate the productivity and profitability of millet and oilseed intercropping with row ratiounder dryland conditions of the Northern Dry Zone of Karnataka. The experiment consisted of 16 treatments, includingniger and sesame intercropping in 1:2, 3:3 and 2:4 row ratios with foxtail millet and little millet under replacement series. Asignificant variation in plant height, Total Dry Matter Production (TDMP), grains weight per 0.5-m row length, and testweight were observed in sole cropping and intercropping systems. The plant height of millet and oilseed crops wasrelatively less in the sole than in intercropping systems. The TDMP of foxtail millet and little millet was higher in sole thanintercropping systems. Among the intercropping systems, foxtail millet + niger (2:4) recorded significantly highest plantheight, TDMP, grains weight per 0.5-m row length (93.33 g), test weight (3.41 g) over sole foxtail millet and little millet. Themaximum yield of foxtail millet was recorded in intercropping with niger in a 2:4 row ratio (762 kg ha-1) and little millet inintercropping with sesame in a 2:4 row ratio (562 kg ha-1). The system productivity was highest in foxtail millet + niger witha 2:4 row ratio (1916 kg ha-1) followed by foxtail millet + niger with 1:2 row ratio intercropping systems. The systemprofitability in terms of net returns and the benefit-cost ratio was higher in foxtail millet intercropped with niger in 2:4 rowratio (28,642 `ha-1and 2.65, respectively) followed by foxtail millet + niger in 1:2 row ratio. Therefore, we conclude that thefoxtail millet + niger (2:4) is a productive and profitable intercropping system for the Northern Dry Zone of Karnataka