Impact of Row Configuration and Biofertilizers on Yield and Quality of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) Intercropped with Cowpea in the Southern Laterites of Kerala, India
Kasapogu Rachel Madhurima
*
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala-695522, India.
Shalini Pillai, P.
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala-695522, India.
Rajasree G.
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala-695522, India.
Usha C. Thomas
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala-695522, India.
Chitra N.
Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala-695522, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during December 2023 to April 2024 to assess the performance of sorghum in terms of yield and quality, when intercropped with cowpea at varying row configuration and biofertilizers. The field experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD). The study comprised intercropping sorghum with cowpea, at three row ratios and four levels of biofertilizer application (r1 – 1:1 row ratio, r2 – 1:2 row ratio, r3 – 2:1 row ratio; b0 – No biofertilizer, b1 – AMF, b2 – Rhizobium and b3 – AMF + Rhizobium). The treatment r3 (2:1 row ratio) resulted in higher grain yield, grains per panicle, grain weight per panicle, and green stover yield of sorghum.19.4 per cent yield increase was observed in the treatment r3 than r2. Application of AMF and Rhizobium together (b3) resulted in more number of grains per panicle, grain weight, grain yield and green stover yield of sorghum. Sorghum grain yield was reduced in the absence of biofertilizer (b0). The treatment combination r2b1 (sorghum intercropped with cowpea in 1:2 ratio along with AMF) showed the highest crude protein content in sorghum grains. Iron and copper content were increased with the application of AMF (b1). However, application of AMF and Rhizobium (b3) together resulted in higher magnesium content in sorghum grains.
Keywords: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), cowpea, intercropping, rhizobium, row ratio, Sorghum