Effect of different spacing, land configuration and intercropping on economics of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Mill)

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2024 at ARS, Badnapur, on clayey soil. Pigeonpea variety BDN 2013-41 (Godavari) was sown with eight treatments viz., four sole pigeonpea spacings 90×20 cm (T₁), 120×30 cm (T₂), 150×30 cm on ridges and furrow (T₃) and 180×30 cm on ridges and furrow (T₄), two paired row planting on BBF 60-120×30 cm (T₅) and 90-150×30 cm (T₆) and pigeonpea + soybean intercropping systems with two ratios 1:4 (T₇) and 2:4 (T₈), respectively. The trial was laid out in RBD with three replications. Sowing was done by dibbling on 11 July 2024. Wider spacing of 180 × 30 cm on ridges and furrow (T₄) recorded highest benefit cost ratio (3.1). However, significantly highest pigeonpea equivalent yield (PEY) (2262 kg ha^-1), gross monetary return (GMR) (₹1,76,436 ha^-1) and net monetary return (NMR) (₹1,09,309 ha^-1) was recorded under 2:4 pigeonpea + soybean (T₈) and was at par with 1:4 pigeonpea + soybean (T₇) (PEY: 2195 kg ha^-1), (GMR: ₹1,71,189 ha^-1) and (NMR: ₹1,04,298 ha^-1), moreover, both intercropping systems recorded significantly more PEY, GMR and NMR over rest of the treatments.