Source: http://vasat.icrisat.org/crops/pearl_millet/pm_production/html/m8_8.1/index.html

Intercropping in Pearl Millet

Adverse weather conditions like delay in the onset of rains and/or failure of rains for few days to weeks some time or other during the crop period is very common in the rainfed pearl millet growing areas.Such situation results in economic losses to the farmers due to the partial or total failure of pearl millet crop. To over come this situation there is need to adopt or follow pearl millet based cropping systems like intercropping or mixed cropping in rainfed pearl millet growing areas.

Intercropping refers to growing more than one crop in the same land area in rows of definite proportion and pattern.

                      

                                        Pearl millet-Groundnut                                           Sorghum-Pigeon pea
                                                 Intercropping                                                          Intercropping

With particular reference to dry land agriculture, an intercropping system needs to be designed in such a way that in the case of unfavorable weather, at least one crop will survive to give economic yields. Thus, intercropping system should provide for the necessary insurance against unpredictable weather. In case the year happens to be normal with respect to rainfall, the intercropping system, as a whole, should prove to be more profitable than growing either of the crops alone.

An ideal intercropping should aim to:

• Produce higher yields per unit area through better use of natural resources;
•  Offer greater stability in production under adverse weather conditions and with disease and insect infestation;
• Meet the domestic needs of the farmer;
• Provide an equitable distribution of farm resources.

The following intercropping practices were found to be remunerative than sole crop of pearl millet even under drought or more than normal rainfall in AP.

Pearl millet + Red gram (pigeon pea)                            2:1 ratio

Pearl millet + Groundnut                                               2:4 ratio

Pearl millet + Soybean                                                 4:2 ratio

Pearl millet + Sunflower                                                4:2 ratio 

(2:1 ratio indicates 2 rows of pearl millet and one row of the other crop)

           Pearl millet-Groundnut Intercropping

Pearl millet and Groundnut intercropping system is recommended to farmers to meet the fodder needs of cattle and milch animals.

While maintaining the yield levels of the sole crop of pearl millet, additional yields with the intercropping component have been realized under various systems. Since a food legume is involved in most of the systems, it will not only enhance the income of the farmer, but would also provide with the much-needed protein to supplement the predominantly cereal diet of farmers.

Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices

State	Suggesred Intercropping
East Rajasthan	Pearl millet + Cluster bean        Pearl millet + Cow pea        Pearl millet + Green gram
Western Rajasthan	Pearl millet + Moth bean        Pearl millet + Cluster bean
Maharashtra	Pearl millet + Pigeon pea/soybean        Pearl millet + Black gram        Pearl millet + Green gram        Pearl millet + Cow pea        Pearl millet + Moth bean        Pearl millet + Sun flower

Gujarat	Pearl millet + Green gram        Pearl millet + Cow pea        Pearl millet + Sesame
Haryana	Pearl millet + Cluster bean       Pearl millet + Green gram       Pearl millet + cow pea
Uttar Pradesh	Pearl millet + Green gram        Pearl millet + Cow pea        Pearl millet + Sesame
Madhya Pradesh	Pearl millet + Pigeon pea        Pearl millet + Cow pea        Pearl millet + Soybean
Karnataka	Pearl millet + Pigeonpea/soybean        Pearl millet + sun flower        Pearl millet + Green gram
Andhra Pradesh	Pearl millet + Pigeonpea/soybean        Pearl millet + Green gram
Tamil Nadu	Pearl millet + Pigeonpea/soybean        Pearl millet + Green gram        Pearl millet + Cow pea        Pearl millet + Sun flower