Effect of irrigation scheduling on performance of summer legumes
grown in association of sugarcane A field experiment was
conducted during 2001–03 to find out an optimum irrigation
schedule for intercrops grown in association with spring
sugarcane, on silty clay-loam soil, having 23.4% moisture at
field capacity and 8.6% at permanent wilting point (PWP). Daily
evapotranspiration (ET) varied from 3.3 to 16.8 mm/day. Mungbean
(Phaseolus radiatus L.), urdbean (P. mungo L.) and cowpea [Vigna
unguiculata (L.) Walp.] gave highest yield of 4.1, 3.85 q/ha and
73.0 q/ha, respectively with irrigation at, IW: CPE ratio of 1.2
compared to 3.25, 2.75 and 6.10 q/ha with irrigations at
flowering and pod-filling stage. All the intercrops reduced cane
yield due to decline in number of millable canes and cane
weight. Mean reduction in cane yield was 14.2% with cowpea,
11.5% with urdbean and 9.2% with mungbean. Irrigation at 1.2 IW:
CPE ratio resulted in highest cane yield of 97.0 tonnes/ha,
being respectively 3.7, 8.1 and 13.3