SUSTAINABLE INTERCROP ASSOCIATION OF LITTLE MILLET (PANICUM MILIARE) WITH GROUNDNUT (ARACHIS-HYPOGAEA) AND PIGEONPEA (CAJANUS-CAJAN)

An experiment was conducted during thp rainy season (kharif) 1989, 199 0 and 1991 to evaluate the economically and biologically sustainable i ntercrop association of 'Birsa Gondli'l little miller (Panicum miliare L.) with 'AK 12-24' groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and little miller with 'BR 65' pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]. Intercropping of either groundnut or pigeonpea with little millet was found beneficial to sole-stand yield of little millet, but it was uneconomical to sole -stand yield of both the intercrops. Among the intercrops, association of little miller with groundnut in 2 : 1, 2 : 2 and 4 : 1 row ratios were found more remunerative, which gave higher monetary advantage of Rs 320/ha and Rs 489/ha respectively than sole little miller. These tr eatments also accounted for higher net return (212%-232%), net return to Rs/Re investments (Rs 1.27-1.49), net return/day (Rs 16.72-18.31) a nd finally relative net return (Rs 1.59-1.70) over sole little mill et . Row ratio of 4:1 also accounted for maximum land-equivalent ratio (1 .26) and product of crowding coefficient (K 25.43).