B. HIMASREE*, V. CHANDRIKA, N.V. SARALA AND A. PRASANTHI

Department of Agronomy, S.V. Agricultural College, ANGRAU, Tirupati – 517 502, Chittoor Dt., Andhra Pradesh

ABSTRACT

A field experiment was conducted during late kharif, 2016 at S.V. Agricultural College Farm, Tirupati, ANGRAU with three different times of sowing of foxtail millet (first fortnight of August, second fortnight of August and first fortnight of September) in combination with four intercropping systems (foxtail millet + pigeonpea (5 : 1), foxtail millet + castor (5 : 1), foxtail millet + black gram (3 : 3) and foxtail millet + cowpea (3 : 3)). The results of the experiment revealed that among the three times of sowing, first fortnight of August sowings recorded higher stature of growth, yield attributes and yield of foxtail millet and intercrops. The above parameters were at their lower value with first fortnight of September sowings. Intercropping system of foxtail millet + pigeonpea (5 : 1) resulted in higher growth and yield of foxtail millet while, they were found to be at their lower values with foxtail millet + cowpea (3 : 3) intercropping system. Sowing of foxtail millet + pigeonpea (5 : 1) intercropping system during first fortnight of August proved to be viable risk minimizing strategy under late sown conditions.

KEYWORDS:

Foxtail millet, times of sowing, intercropping system, growth, yield.