Subsurface Drip Fertigation, Irrigation Regimes and Short Duration Pulses on Productivity of Cotton-Maize Cropping Sequence

Abstract

Fertigation, a latest technology wherein nutrients are applied along with irrigation water. Fertigation opens new possibilities for controlling water and nutrient supplies to crops besides maintaining the desired concentration and distribution of water and nutrients to the soil. Research works on drip fertigation under intercropping situation is very limited. Input information on optimal schedules for micro-irrigation and fertigation to cotton and maize with intercropping of pulses will have to be generated, thus enabling the option of micro irrigation under intercropping situation. The experiment was laid out in split split plot design with three replications. The main plot consists of two irrigation levels viz., 75 and 100 % PE reading, sub plot contains three drip fertigation levels viz., 75, 100 and 125 % and sub sub plot consist intercropping with short duration pulses viz., sole crop of maize/cotton, intercrop with cow pea, blackgram and cluster bean. The result revealed that no significant differences were noticed in number of bolls, boll weight under different irrigation regimes. Among the fertigation level, 125% RDF recorded higher number of bolls plant-1 and boll weight. The cotton equivalent yield of 3860 kg ha-1 with water saving of 24 per cent was accrued under cotton intercropped with blackgram and irrigation regime of 100% PE with application of 125% RDF (150:75:75 kgs NPK/ha) and it was followed by irrigation regime at 75% PE it increased 18.9% cotton yield compared to control (2099 kg ha-1) with water saving of 40.6%.  Regarding maize based intercropping system, maize + black gram intercropping with irrigation regime of 100% PE and 100% RDF (250: 75: 75 kg NPK/ha) gave higher maize equivalent yield of 7735 kg/ha. In cotton – maize sequence, intercropping of black gram found to be best suitable system with the irrigation level of 100% PE and 125% RDF (150:75:75 kg NPK/ha) for cotton and 100% RDF (250: 75: 75 kg NPK/ha) for maize is recommended to get higher yield.