Content uploaded by Sharmili Sheriff
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Sharmili Sheriff on Jan 12, 2023
Content may be subject to copyright.
1
The Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Agronomic Research on Intercropping Millets and Pulses - A Review
K. SHARMILI AND M. YASODHA
School of Agriculture and Biosciences, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences
Karunya Nagar, Coimbatore - 641 114
e-Mail : sharmilisheriff@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of the importance of millets in India. Millets are rich in many
minerals and hence often termed as nutriacereals / nutraceuticals. In general, millets are cultivated mainly as rainfed
crops. They are hardy crops that can be grown in very harsh climate, moisture and nutrient deficit soils, which
reveals its importance in current climate change scenario. In addition, reducing land resources associated with poor
soil fertility status leads to finding a better way for efficient resource utilisation with increased productivity. This
situation can be achieved by adoption of efficient intercropping systems. Inclusion of legumes with millets can
achieve higher net return, more crop equivalent yield with less cost of cultivation than sole cropping of millets. This
review will be useful for the researchers who are involved in research on cropping systems involving millets and
pulses.
Keywords : Millets, Pulses, Intercropping, Soil productivity, Yield
MILLETS have been cultivated for around 3,000
years making them an integral part of the culture
in the history of India. Millets are not only food grains;
they are still intricately interwoven in the socio-cultural
fabric for numerous regions. They are known to be
low in dietary bulk, high in nutrient content and
known for its good profile of amino acids. Millets
are highly nutritious and has antioxidant properties
which provides balanced nutrition (Mishra et al., 2014).
Among thir teen species in millets, sorghum
(Sorghum bicolor L.) and pearl millet (Pennisetum
typhoides L.) are considered as major, while finger
millet (El eusine coracana L.), barnyard millet
(Echinochloa frumentacea L.), foxtail or Italian
millet (Setaria italica L.), kodomillet (Paspalum
scrobiculatum L.), little millet (Panicumsumatrens
L.) and prosomillet (Panicum miliaceum L.) are
smaller millets.
Millets are unique among cereals due to their richness
in calcium, dietary fibre, polyphenols and protein
(Devi et al., 2011). They generally contain significant
amounts of essential amino acids including sulphur
containing amino acids, viz., methionine and cysteine
(Obilana and Manyasa, 2002). Though the crops pass
both the heritage and health benefits, more focus has
been given on rice, wheat and maize production after
the green revolution. Millets have been neglected
(NAAS, 2013; Padulosi et al., 2015 and Thakur &
Sharma, 2018). Yet during recent years, they are
regaining their pride owing to their nutritional value
and ecological hardiness (Padulosi, 2011; Saha et al.,
2016 and Bandyopadhyay et al., 2017).
Hea lth Ben efits of Mi llets in Relat ion to
Controlling Life Style Diseases
All the millet foods are having significant health
benefits, with their rich content of nutrients like fibre
which helps in metabolic disorders like Diabetes,
Obesity, Cardiovascular diseases etc. Millets are
unique among the cereals because of their richness in
calcium, dietary fibre, polyphenols and protein
(Devi et al., 2011). Small millets are high energy,
nutritious food comparable to other cereals and some
of them are even better with regard to protein and
mineral content. They are particularly low in phytic
acid and rich in dietary fibre, iron, calcium and
B vitamins. Thus, millets can act as a shield against
nutritional deficiency disorders and provide nutritional
security.
Mysore J. Agric. Sci., 55 (4) : 1-10 (2021)
2
The Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Millets offer several health benefits to consumers.
They have excellent nutritional qualities and are
comparable to some commonly consumed cereals like
wheat and rice (Ragaee et al., 2006). These crops
lack gluten and hence can be consumed by people
suffering from celiac disease (Gabrovska et al., 2002).
Obesity is the biggest emerging problem in India and
it is associated with several chronic diseases including
diabetes and CVD. Recent studies show that intake
of high dietary fibre decreases the incidence of obesity
(Alfieri et al., 1995). Chethan, et al. (2007), reported
that there is 15.7 per cent insoluble dietary fiber,
1.4 per cent soluble dietary fiber, in finger millet grain.
The total dietary fibre (22.0%) of finger millet grain
were reported to be relatively higher than that of many
other cereal grains (e.g., 12.6, 4.6 and 12.8%,
respectively for wheat, rice, maize and sorghum
(Shobana & Malleshi, 2007 and Siwela et al., 2010).
Millet consumption can also lower glycemic response,
which can be helpful for the treatment of type II
diabetes (Choi et al., 2005). Magnesium is an
important mineral which helps in increasing the
efficiency of Insulin and glucose receptors by
producing many carbohydrate digesting enzymes,
which manages insulin action. (Reddy, 2017). Millets
which are known to be rich in phyto-chemicals which
contains phytic acid helping in lowering cholesterol
and preventing cardiovascular disease by reducing
plasma triglycerides (Lee, et al., 2010).
Inclusion of millets in the human diet can lower the
risk of duodenal ulcers, anemia and constipation
(Nambiar et al., 2011). For patients suffering from
allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, Japanese
barnyard millet grains have been recommended to
replace rice and wheat grains. (Watanabe and Mitsuru,
1999). It is showed that phenolics in millets are
effective in preventing the cancer initiation and
progression in vitro (Chandrasekara and Shahidi,
2011). Celiac disease is a genetically susceptible
problem triggered by the consumption of gluten. As
the millets are gluten free, they help in reducing the
celiac disease by reducing the irritation caused by the
co mmon cereal grains which contain gluten.
(Saleh et al., 2013).
Climate Resilient Nature of Millets
Millets are climate-resilient crops adaptable to wide
variety of ecological conditions requiring less water
for irrigation with better growth and productivity in
low nutrient soils. They also have short life-cycle
which assists them from escaping stress as they require
12-14 weeks to complete their life-cycle whereas rice
and wheat requires a maximum of 20-24 weeks.
However, the prevalence of stress conditions and their
consequences are circumvented by several traits such
as short stature, small leaf area, thickened cell walls,
and the capability to form dense root system
(Li and Brutnell, 2011).
The C4 photosynthetic of the millets is highly
advantageous character. In C4 system, carbon
dioxide (CO2) is concentrated around ribulose - 1,
5 - bisphosphate carboxylase / oxygenase (RuBisCO),
which in turn suppresses ribulose 1, 5 - bisphosphate
(RuBP) oxygenation and phot orespiration
(Aubry et al., 2011). Thus, C4 mechanism enhances
the concentration of CO2 in bundle sheath, which
suppresses photorespiration (around 80%) depending
on the temperature and increases the
in planta catalytic activity of RuBisCO (Sage et al.,
2011). Since RuBisCO of C4 plants works at elevated
CO2 levels, millets have enhanced photosynthetic rates
at warm conditions and confers immediate water use
efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)
which are 1.5 to 4-fold higher than C3 photosynthesis
(Sage and Zhu, 2011). These attributes of millets make
them next-generation crops holding the potential for
research to explore the climate-resilient traits.
The increasing population of India is not only
throwing challenges as higher food productivity but
also it is high time that we must check the threats on
nutritional security because of drastically changing
climatic conditions environmental pollutions. This is
high time that we must incorporate millets in
agricultural biodiversification as a promising tool in
overcoming the environmental stresses. We are in need
of very strong and yet resilient agricultural sector
supporting the livelihoods of tribal and rural
populations and this can be enhanced by allowing these
Mysore J. Agric. Sci., 55 (4) : 1-10 (2021) K. SHARMILI AND M. YASODHA
3
The Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences
smart foods in our daily meals. Also, growing of a
single crop in a year or cereals as sole crop is not so
much remunerative in present scenario. There is an
urgent requirement for incorporation of the pulses in
millets production system to stabilize the production to
feed the increasing population besides restoring the
soil nutritional status. Hence some selective work has
been reviewed here for understanding the beneficial
effect of millets and pulses intercropping system.
Signifiacnce of Millets + Pulses Intercropping
System
Agriculture in India faces many constraints like climate
change and vagaries in rainfall, but millets are the crops
which can tolerate and withstand varied climatic
conditions. Even though these crops have higher
nutritional and health benefits, the area under millets
has been shrinking. This is mainly because of low
productivity of millets when compared to other
cereal crops and hence situation can be overcome by
intercropping of millets.
Also, growing of millets and other crops in their pure
stands is risky under rainfed and dryland conditions
due to unpredictable rainfall and drought. Under such
conditions to achieve guaranteed productivity,
diversification of crops is inevitable. Among the crop
diversification options, intercropping are considered as
the most suitable for sustaining crop productivity
(Bantie et al., 2014). Small millets are compatible for
polyculture as mixed and intercropping, thus offering
sustainable usage of available resources, providing
food, nutrition and livelihood security to small holders
in drylands (Kiwia et al., 2019 and Opole, 2019).
Intercropping is advantageous in many ways as it
assures greater resource use, reduction of population
of harmful biotic agents, higher resource conservation
and soil health and more production and sustainability
of the system (Maitra et al., 2019 and Maitra et al.,
2020). The main advantage of intercropping are the
more efficient utilization of the available resources and
the increased productivity compared with each sole
crop of the mixture (Launay et al., 2009).
In intercropping system, more than one crop is
grown together on the same land and utilizes the
soil nutrients (Xue et al., 2016; Chavan et al., 2017;
Yang et al., 2018 and Jensen et al., 2020), soil moisture
(Chen et al., 2018 and Singh et al., 2020), green
house gas flux (Adler et al., 2007; Signor &
Cerri, 2013 and Collins et al., 2017) sunlight (Kermah
et al., 2017 and Raza et al., 2019) and also reduces
run off (Zougmore et al., 2000 and Banik et al., 2006).
Crop diversification is also necessary to get higher
yield and return besides maintaining soil health
apart from other benefits like sustaining crop
productivity (Yogesh et al., 2014; Chai et al., 2014;
Bantie et al., 2014 and Jan et al., 2016) and enabling
diversity of beneficial soil microorganisms (Li & Wu,
2018 and Maitra & Ray, 2019).
Intercropping of legumes with cereals is a recognized
practice for economizing the use of nitrogenous
fertilizers and increasing the productivity and
profitability per unit area and time. Also, presence of
leguminous crops in the mixture benefits the associated
non-leguminous crops, as they provide a portion of
biologically fixed nitrogen to non-leguminous
co mponents (Kurd ali et a l., 2003) . Hence,
intercropping of pulses with millets will pave way
for higher millet productivity besides increasing
soil fertility (Gregorich et al., 2001 and Gathumbi
et al., 2003).
Growth and Yield Attributes in an Millet - Pulse
Intercropping System
One of the main reasons for the use of intercropping
around the world is produced more than a pure cropping
of same land amount (Caballero and Goicoechea,
1995). Intercropping with cereal and legume is a
very common combination and it provides numerous
advantages in terms of total productivity of crops
(Yogesh et al., 2014). The yielding ability of a crop is
reflected through its yield attributing characters. The
yield attributes of little millet like number of productive
tillers per hill and test weight was found to be increased
when intercropped with pigeon pea at 6:1 ratio
(Sharmili and Manoharan, 2018).
Mysore J. Agric. Sci., 55 (4) : 1-10 (2021) K. SHARMILI AND M. YASODHA
4
The Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Basavarajappa et al. (2010) revealed that under
shallow alfisols, higher foxtailmillet equivalent yield
(5270 kg/ha) was recorded in foxtail millet and
pigeonpea followed by foxtail millet and mesta
(3053 kg/ha). Sharmili et al. (2019) stated that
intercropping little millet with pigeonpea in 6:1 row
ratio followed by sequential cropping of horsegram
recorded higher grain and straw yield (1602 kg/ha
grain yield and 4774 kg/ha straw yield, respectively).
Maitra et al., (2000) reported that finger millet
produced more yield under intercropping with
pigeon pea.
Sivagamy et al. (2020) presented that higher grain
and straw yields were recorded little millet +
pigeonpea followed by sequential crop of blackgram
at 8:2 ratio (652 kg/ha grain yield and 1676 kg/ha
straw yield, respectively) and it was on par with
little millet + pigeonpea followed by horsegram
sequence. According to Binod Kumar and Pankaj
Kumar (2020) the maximum yield of finger millet
(2010 kg/ha) was recorded when intercropped with
black gram in 6:2 ratio. Nigade et al. (2012) also
reported that intercropping of finger millet with
blackgram or mothbean in 8:2 or 4:1 row proportion
resulted in maximum grain and straw yield. Further,
Milenkovic et al. (2019) reported that 1:1 ratio of
soybean and proso millet in intercrop resulted in high
biomass yield in Belgrade, Serbia.
Soil Health and its Effects in Alternate Cropping
System
Intercropping of cereals with legumes is an excellent
practice for reducing soil erosion and sustaining crop
production. Moreover, deep roots of pulses like
pigeonpea penetrate more while breaking up hardpans
into the soil and utilize moisture and nutrients from
deeper down in the soil. On the other hand, shallow
roots of crops like millets bind the soil particle at the
surface and thereby help to reduce erosion. Further,
presence of leguminous crops in the mixture
benefits the associated non-leguminous crops, as
they provide a portion of biologically fixed nitrogen
to non-leguminous components (Kurdali et al., 2003).
Further, the leguminous crops increase content of
nitrogen in soil and help in maintaining soil fertility
(Gregorich et al., 2001 and Gathumbi et al., 2003).
In addition, legumes enrich soil by fixing the
atmospheric nitrogen converting it from an inorganic
form to forms that are available for plants uptake.
Biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen can
replace nitrogen fertilization wholly or in part.
Biological nitrogen fixation is the major source
of nitrogen in legume-cereal mixed cropping
systems when nitrogen fertilizer is limited. In
addition, roots of the legume component can
decompose and release nitrogen into the soil where it
is made available to subsequent crops (Fujita
et al., 1992).
Singh et al. (1998) reported that intercropping
of legume, particularly blackgram with maize
resulted in efficient utilization of the growth
resources besides conservation of the soil health.
Velayutham and Somasundaram (2000) indicated
that intercropping of pulses with cereals and other
non-legume companion crops have certain in-built
advantages over pure cropping. Further they have
recorded that, pulses leave 20 - 25 kg/ha of nitrogen
inthe soil at the time of harvest, which is utilized
by the subsequent crop and tremendous leaf fall
will form best source of organic matter. Oberson
et al. (2001) conducted a field experiment at the
Carimagua Research Station, Colombia on maize +
soybean and rice + cowpea intercropping systems and
observed that legume-based cropping systems
maintained higher organic and available P levels
than non-legumes in rotation. Greater turnover of
roots and above ground litter inlegume-based
intercropping could provide steady organic inputs
resulting in high P cycling and availability.
According to Lithourgidis et al. (2011) after the harvest
of pulse intercrop, decaying roots and fallen leaves
provide nitrogen and other nutrients for the next
crop. Also, a report by Rahman et al. (2009) stated
that residual effect of the pulse crop on the next
crop is largest when the remains of the pulse are
left on the field and ploughed after harvest.
Tripathi and Kushwaha (2013) reported that nutrient
uptake by pearl millet in terms of N, P and K was
Mysore J. Agric. Sci., 55 (4) : 1-10 (2021) K. SHARMILI AND M. YASODHA
5
The Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences
significantly increased under intercropping system.
Kalu Ram and Meena (2015) revealed that the
intercropping of pearl millet with mungbean in 1:7
ratio recorded better nutrient uptake compared to sole
and other intercropping treatments.
Pl ant Heal th and Weed Competitiveness in
Millet - Pulse System
Traditionally intercrops have been practiced to smother
the weeds which depends mainly on crop behaviour
and weed growth. Intercrops may demonstrate weed
control advantages over sole crops in two ways.
First, greater crop yield and less weed growth may
be achieved if intercrops are more effective than
sole crops in resources from weeds or by suppressing
weed growth through allelopathy. Alternatively,
intercrops may provide yield advantages
without suppressing weed growth if intercrops
use resources that are not exploitable by weeds or
convert resources to harvestable material more
efficiently than sole crops (Geno and Geno, 2001).
According to Meena et al. (2017) intercropping of
finger millet with pulses and oilseeds significantly
reduced the weed population in the crop field
because of more crop plant per unit area in
intercropping systems which suppress the weed
growth and also some crop plant act as trap crop
or non-host crop which cause suicidal germination of
parasite weeds and result in death of the weed plant
due to lack of host plant.
The findings of Mutnal and Hosmani (1985) stated
that there was a reduction in weed population under
maize + cowpea intercropping system. Further,
intercropping of cowpea, greengram, groundnut and
soybean in sorghum crop would effectively reduce
the weed population. Chandran (1987) stated that
under sorghum and cowpea intercropping system there
was a significant reduction in weed population.
Lawson et al. (2006) noticed that in maize-legume
intercropping system, the growth of legume crops was
found to be suppressed by the presence of weeds.
Chandra et al. (2013) observed that weed biomass
was higher in sole finger milletplots (250 kg/ha)
compared to intercropping.
Economics of Millet-Legume Cropping Pattern
Economics of particular intercropping system is
supposed to be the most important aspect from the
crop production point of view. Intercropping aims at
maximum production and net return per unit of space
and time. Though the yield of main crop was reduced
due to inclusion of component crop in intercropping
systems, higher monetary return was recorded by
many research workers.
Sharmili and Parasuraman (2018) conducted an
experiment in Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu
during khar if season to study the impact of
intercropping little millet with pigeonpea and lablab
bean on growth and productivity of crops. The study
revealed that higher grain and straw yields were
recorded in little millet + pigeonpea followed by
sequential crop of horsegram at 6:1 ratio (1602
kg/ha grain yield and 4774.1 kg/ha straw yield,
respectively) and it was on par with littlemillet +
pigeonpea followed by sequential crop of mothbean
at 6:1 ratio (1584.1 kg/ha grain yield and 4655.5 kg/
ha straw yield, respectively).
Murali et al. (2014) reported that intercropping of
finger millet + pigeonpea (transplanted) gave maximum
net returns Rs.26,218/ha with benefit: cost ratio of 2.49.
Jakhar et al. (2015) revealed from his studies that
strip cropping of finger millet + groundnut in 6:4 ratio
resulted in maximum net returns and benefit: cost ratio.
Also, in other studies conducted in finger millet by
Ramamoorthy et al. (2003), net returns of Rs.23,277
/ha and benefit: cost ratio (5.90) were recorded under
strip cropping of finger millet + pigeon pea as compared
to sole crop of finger millet.
Girase et al. (2007) reported higher net monetary
returns (Rs.14,617 /ha) and benefit-cost ratio (2.98)
in the pearl millet + moth bean intercropping system.
Sonawane et al. (2007) from their study, reported that
the net returns and benefit cost ratio (Rs.17,021/ha
and 2.31, respectively) were higher over the sole crop
of pearl millet. Anchal Dass and Sudhishri (2010)
recorded the highest net returns (Rs.9,665/ ha) and
benefit cost: ratio (1.00) obtained with finger millet +
pigeonpea (6:2).
Mysore J. Agric. Sci., 55 (4) : 1-10 (2021) K. SHARMILI AND M. YASODHA
6
The Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences
The literature on economics of intercropping system
clearly indicated that millet and pulse based
intercropping system accounted for higher economic
returns than sole cropping of millets.
Fut ure P rosp ects / Roa d Map of Fu ture
Mi l let – P u lse In t ercr o pping Sys tem in
Agriculture
Although the history of millets and intercropping is age
old, only very little attention is given towards
intercropping small millets from researchers, farmers,
and policy makers for sustaining crop productivity and
nutritional security. Participatory research on farmers’
field involving small and marginal farmers, extension
workers and other related stakeholders is very much
needed to create awareness on the role of pulse-based
millet intercropping in which pulse crop has great role
in fixing atmospheric nitrogen besides sustaining the
productivity and improving soil quality and economic
profitability with additional benefit of nutritional security
with diversified cropping.
The potential of intercropping is well known for
multifaceted benefits like greater resource use,
reduction of population of harmful biotic agents,
higher resource conservation and soil health and
agricultural sustainability. These benefits are
prominently pronounced in drylands. On the other hand,
small millets are important ecologically hardycrops of
drylands which can provide food and nutritional security
to small holders. On the basis of available literature
studied it could be said that intercropping small millets
in drylands is one of the suitable options for ecologically
sound agriculture.
REFERENCES
ADLER, P. R., DEL GROSSO, S. J. AND PARTON, W. J., 2007, Life
cycle assessment of net greenhouse-gas flux for
bioenergy cropping systems. Ecological Applications,
17 : 675 - 91.
ALFIERI, M. A. H., POMER LEAU , J., GRACE, D. M. AND
ANDERSON, L., 1995, Fiber intake of normal weight,
moderately obese and severely obese subjects. Obesity
Research, 3 (6) : 541 - 547.
ANCHAL DASS AND SUDHISHRI, S., 2010, Intercropping finger
millet (Eleusine coracana) with pulses for enhanced
productivity, resource conservation and soil fertility in
uplands of Southern Orissa. In dia n J ourna l of
Agronomy, 55 : 89 - 94.
AUBRY, S., BROWN, N. J. AND HIBBERD, J. M., 2011, The role
of proteins in C3 plants prior to their recruitment into
the C4 pathway. Journal of Experimental Botany,
62 : 3049 - 3059.
BANDYOPADHYAY, T., MEHANATHAN, M. AND PRASAD, M., 2017,
millets for next generation climate smart agriculture.
Frontiers Plant Science, 8.
BANIK, P., MIDYA, A., SARKAR, B. K. AND GHOSH, S. S., 2006,
Wheat and chickpea intercropping systems in an
additive series experiment: advantages and weed
smothering. European Journal of Agronomy, 24 :
325 - 332.
BANTIE, Y., FETIEN, A. AND TADESSE, D., 2014, Competition
indices of intercropped lupine (local) and small cereals
in additive series in West Gojjam, North Western
Ethiopia. American Journal of Plant Science, 5 :
1296 - 05.
BASAVARAJAPPA, R., PRABHAKAR, A. AND HALIKATTI, S., 2010,
Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) based inter cropping
systems under shallow alfisols. Karnataka Journal of
Agricultural Sciences, 16 (4).
BINOD KUMAR AND PANKAJ KUMAR RAY, 2020, Performance
of intercropping of legumes with finger millet
(Eleus ine coracana) for enhancing productivity,
sustainability and economics in Koshi region of
Bihar. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry,
9 (3) : 1568 - 1571.
CABALLERO, R. AND GOICOECHEA, E. L., 1995, Forage yield
quality of common vetch and oat sown varying
seeding ratios and seeding rates of vetch. Field Crops
Research, 41 : 135 - 140.
CHAI, Q., QIN, A., GAN, Y. AND YU, A., 2014, Higher yield and
lower carbon emission by intercropping maize with
rape, pea and wheat in arid irrigation areas. Agronomy
for Sustainable Development, 34 : 535 - 543.
Mysore J. Agric. Sci., 55 (4) : 1-10 (2021) K. SHARMILI AND M. YASODHA
7
The Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences
CHANDRAN, S., 1987, Response of sorghum to nitrogen
with and without weed control under sole and
intercropping systems. M.Sc., (Ag.) Thesis, IARI, New
Delhi, India.
CHANDRA, A., KANDARI, L. S., VIKRAM, S. N., MAIKHURI, R. K.
AND RA O, K. S., 2013, Role of intercr opping
on production and land use efficiency in the central
Himalaya, Ind ia. In tern atio nal Jo u rna l of
Environmental Science and Technology, 8 : 105 - 113.
CHANDRASEKARA, A. AND SHAHIDI, F., 2011, Antiproliferative
potential and DNA scission inhibitory activity of
phenolics from whole millet grains. Journal of
Functional Foods, 3 : 159 - 170.
CHAVAN, I. B., JAGTAP, D. N. AND MAHADKAR, U. V., 2017,
Weed control efficiency and yield of finger millet
[Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] influenced due to
different establishment techniques, levels and time of
application of nitrogen. Farm Manage, 2 : 108 - 113.
CHEN, G., KONG, X., GAN, Y., ZHANG, R., FENG, F., YU, A.,
ZHAO, C., WAN, S. AND CHAI, Q., 2018, Enhancing the
systems productivity and water use efficiency through
coordinated soil water sharing and compensation in
strip intercropping. Scientific Reports, 8 : Article No.
10494. doi: 10.1038/ s41598-018-28612-6.
CHETHAN, S AND MALLESHI, N. G., 2007, Finger millet
polyphenols: optimization of extraction and the
effect of pH on their stability. Food Chemi stry,
105 : 862 - 870.
CHOI, Y. Y., OSADA, K., ITO, Y., NAGASAWA, T., CHOI, M. R. AND
NISHIZAWA, N., 2005, Effects of dietary protein of Korean
foxtail millet on plasma adiponectin, HDL- cholesterol,
andinsulin levels in genetically type 2 diabetic mice.
Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry, 69 :
31 - 37.
COLLINS, H. P., FAY, P. A., KIMURA, E., FRANSEN, S. AND HIMES,
A., 2017, Intercropping with switchgrass improves net
greenhouse balance in hybrid poplar plantations on a
sand soil. Soil Science Society of America Journal,
81 : 781 - 95.
DEVI, P. B., VIJAYABHARATHI, R., SATHYABAMA, S., MALLESHI,
N. G. AND PRIYADARISINI, V. B., 2011, Health benefits of
finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) polyphenols and
dietary fiber : A review - Journal of food science and
technology, DOI: 10.1007/s13197-011-0584-9.
FUJITA, K., OFOSU-BUDU, K. G. AND OGATA, S., 1992, Biological
nitrogen fixation in mixed legume-cereal cropping
systems. Plant and Soil, 141 : 155 - 176.
GABROVSKA, D., FIEDLEROVA, V., HOLASOVA, M., MASKOVA,
E., SMRCINOV, H., RYSOVA, J. AND HUTAR, M., 2002,
The nutritional evaluation of underutilized cereals
and buckwheat. Food and nutrition bulletin, 23 :
246 - 249.
GATHUMBI, S. M., CADISCH, G., BURESH, R. J. AND GILLER,
K. E., 2003, Subsoil nitrogen capture in mixed legume
stands as assessed by deep nitrogen placement. Soil
Science Society of America Journal, 67 : 573 - 582.
GREGORICH, E. G., DRURY, C. F. AND BALDOCK, J. A., 2001,
Changes in soil carbon under long-term maize in
monoculture and legume-based rotation. Canadian
Journal of Soil Sciences, 81 : 21 - 31.
GENO, L. AND GENO, B., 2001, Polyculture production:
principle, benefits and risk of multiple cropping. A
report for the Rural Industry Research and Development
Corporation (RIRDC), Publication, No. 01134.
GIRASE, P. P., SONAWANE, P. D. AND WADILE, S. C., 2007, Effect
of pear l mil let (P enn i set um g lauc um) based
intercropping system on yield and economics of
pearl millet on shallow soils under rainfed conditions.
International Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 3 :
192 - 193.
JAN, R., SAXENA, A., JAN, R., KHANDAY, M. AND JAN, R., 2016,
Intercropping indices and yield attributes of maize
and black cowpea under various planting pattern.
The Bioscan, 11 : 1 - 5.
JENSEN, E. S., CARLSSON, G. AND HAUGGAARD-NILESEN, H.,
2020, Inter cropping grain legumes and cereals
improves use of soil N resources and reduces the
requirement of synthetic fertilizer N : a global scale
analysis. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 40.
Mysore J. Agric. Sci., 55 (4) : 1-10 (2021) K. SHARMILI AND M. YASODHA
8
The Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences
KALU RAM AND MEENA, R. S., 2015, Evaluation of pearl millet
and mungbean intercropping systems in arid region of
Rajasthan. B angl adesh Journal o f Botany , 43 :
367 - 370.
KERMAH, M., FRANKE, A. C., ADJEI-NSIAH, S., AHIABOR, B. D.
K., ABAIDOO, R. C. AND GILLER, K. E., 2017, Maize-grain
legume intercropping for enhanced resource use
efficiency and crop productivity in the Guinea of
northern Ghana. Field Crops Research, 213 : 38 - 50.
KIWIA, A., KIMANI, D., HARAWA, R., JAMA, B. AND SILESHI, G.,
2019, Sustainable intensification with cereal-legume
intercro pping in East ern and Southern Afr ica.
Sustainability, 11 : 1 - 18.
KURDALI, F., JANAT, M. AND KHALIFA, K., 2003, Growth and
nitrogen fixation and uptake in Dhaincha / Sorghum
intercropping system under saline and non-saline
conditions. Community of Soil Sciences and Plant
Analysis, 34 : 2471 - 2494.
LAWSON, Y. D. I., DZOMEKU, I. K., ASEMPA, R. AND BENSON, S.,
2006, Weed control in maize using Mucuna and
Canavalia as intercrops in the Northern Guinea
Savanna zone of Ghana. Journal of Agronomy, 5 :
621 - 625.
LAUNAY, M., BRISSON, N., SATGER, S., HAUGGAARD-NIELSEN
H., CORRE - HELLOU, G., KASYNOVA, E., RUSKE, R., JENSEN,
E. S. AND GOODING, M. J., 2009, Exploring options for
managing strategies for pea-barley intercropping using
a modelling approach. European Journal of Agronomy,
31 : 85 - 98.
LEE, S. H., CHUNG, I. M., CHA, Y. S. AND PARKA, Y., 2010,
Millet consumption decreased serum concentration of
triglyceride and C - reactive protein but not oxidative
status in hyper lipidemic rats. Nutrition Research, 30 :
29 - 296.
LI, P. AND BRU TNE LL, T. P., 2011. Seta ria viri dis
and Setariaitalica, model genetic systems for the
panicoid grasses. Journal of Experimental Botany, 62
: 3031 - 3037.
LI, S. AND WU, F., 2018, Diversity and co-occurrence
patterns of soil bacterial and fungal communities in
seven i ntercropping systems. Fr o nti ers in
Microbiology, 9 : 15 - 21.
LITHOURGIDIS, A. S., VASILAKOGLOU, I. B., DHIMA, K. V.,
DORDAS, C. A., AND YIAKOULAKI, M. D., 2011, Annual
intercrops: an alternative pathway for sustainable
agriculture. Review article. Ami t y Journ al of
Computational Sciences, 5 : 396 - 410.
MAITRA, S. AND RAY, D. P., 2019, Enrichment of biodiversity,
influence in microbial population dynamics of soil and
nutrient utilization in cereal-legume intercropping
systems : A review. I nternat iona l Jou r nal o f
Bioresource Science, 6 : 11 - 19.
MAITRA, S., PALAI J. B., MANASA, P. AND PRASANNA KUMAR
D. , 2019, P otential of Int ercr opping System
in Sustaining Crop Productivity. Inte rnational
Journal of Agr icu l tur e Envi ron m ent a nd
Biotechnology, 12 : 39 - 45.
MAITRA, S., SHANKAR, T. AND BANERJEE, P., 2020, Potential
and advantages of maize-legume intercropping system.
Intech. Open, London, U. K. DOI:10.5772/intech. open.
91722.
MEENA, D. S., GAUTAM, C., PATIDAR, O. P., SINGH, R.,
MEENA, H. M., VISHWAJITH AND PRAKASH, G., 2017,
Management of finger millet based cropping systems
for sustainable production. International Journal of
Curren t Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 3 :
676 - 686.
MILENKOVIC, M., SIMIC, M., BRANKOV, M., MILOJKOVIC -
OPSENICA, D., KRE S OV I C, B . AN D DRAG ICE VIC , V.,
2019, Intercropping of soybean and prosomillet for
biomass production. Journal on Processing and
Energy in Agriculture, 23 : 38 - 40.
MISHRA, V., YADAV, N., PANDEY, S. AND PURANIK, V., 2014,
Bioactive components and nutritional evaluation of
underutilized cereals. Annals of Phytomedicine, 3 :
46 - 49.
MURALI, K. T., SHESHADRI AND BYREGOWDA, M., 2014, Effect
of pigeonpea transplanting on growth, yield and
economics in sole and finger millet intercropping
system under late sown condition. Journal of Food
Legume, 27 : 28 - 31.
Mysore J. Agric. Sci., 55 (4) : 1-10 (2021) K. SHARMILI AND M. YASODHA
9
The Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences
MUTNAL, S. AND HOSMANI, M., 1985, Weed smothering ability
of le gumes i n maiz e (Z ea mays L.) based on
intercropping systems. In : Annual Conference of
Indian Society of Weed Science.
NAAS, 2013, Role of millets in nutritional security of India,
National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New
Delhi. Policy paper 66. Pp : 16.
NAMBIAR, V. S., DHADUK, J., SAREEN, N., SHAHU, T. AND DESAI,
R., 2011, Potential functional implications of pearl millet
(Pennisetum glaucum) in health and disease. Journal
of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 1 : 62.
NIGAD E, R. D., KARAD, S. R AND MORE, S. M., 2012,
Agronomic manipulations for enhancing productivity
of finger millet based on intercropping system.
Advance Research Journal of Crop Improvement,
3 (1) : 8 - 10.
OBILANA, A. B. AND MANYASA, E., 2002, Millets. In: P. S.
Belton and J. R. N. Taylor (Eds.). Pseudo cereals and
less common cereals: Grain properties and utilization
potential. Springer-Verlag : New York. Pp: 177 - 217.
OBSERSON, A. FRIESEN, D. K., RAO I. M, BUHLER, S. AND
FROSSARD. E., 2001, Phosphorus transformation in an
oxisol under contrasting land - use systems : The role
of the soil microbial biomass. Plant and Soil, 237 :
197 - 210.
OPOLE, R. A., 2019, Opportunities for enhancing production,
utilization and marketing of finger millet in Africa.
African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and
Development, 19 : 13863 - 13882.
PADULOSI, S., 2011, Unlocking the potential of minor millets.
Appropriate technology, 38 : 21 - 23.
PADULOSI, S., MAL, B., KING, O. I. AND GOTOR, E., 2015, Minor
millets as a central element of sustainability enhanced
incomes, empowerment and nutrition in rural India.
Sustainability, 7 : 8904 - 8933.
RAGAEE, S., ABDEL-AAL, E. S. M. AND NOAMAN, M., 2006,
Antioxidant activity and nutrient composition of
selected cereals for food use. Food chemistry, 98 :
32 - 38.
RAHMAN, M. M., AMANO, T. AND SHIRAIWA, T., 2009, Nitrogen
use efficiency and recovery from N fertilizer under rice-
based cropping systems. Australian Journal of Crop
Science, 3 : 336 - 351.
RAMAMOORTHY, K., CHRISTOPHER LAURDURAJ, A., RADHAMANI,
S., SANKARAN, N. AND THIYAGHORASAN, T. M., 2003,
Effect of intercropping of field bean on productivity of
finger millet under rainfed condition. Crop Research,
26 : 515 - 518.
RAZA, M. A., FENG, L. Y., VAN DER WREF, W., IQBAL, N.,
KHAN, I., HASSAN, M. J., ANSAR, M., CHEN, Y. K., XI, Z. J.,
SHI, J. Y., AHMED, M., YANG, F. AND YANG,W., 2019,
Optimum leaf defoliation: a new approach for increasing
nutrient uptake and land equivalent ratio of maize
soybean relay intercropping system. Field Crops
Research, 244.
REDDY, O. S. K., 2017, Smart millet and human health, Green
Universe Environmental Services Society.
SAGE, R. F., CHRISTIN, P. A. AND EDWARDS, E. A., 2011, The
lineagesof C4 photosynthesis on planet Earth. Journal
of Experimental Botany, 62 : 3155 - 3169.
SAGE, R. F. AND ZHU, X. G., 2011, Exploiting the engine of C4
photosynthesis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 62 :
2989 - 3000.
SAHA, D., GOWDA, M. V. C., ARYA, L., VERMA, M. AND BANSAL,
K. C., 2016, Genetic and genomic resources of small
millets.Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 35 : 56-79.
SALEH, A. S. M., ZHANG, Q., CHEN, J. ANDSHEN., 2013, Millet
frains: Nutritional quality, processing and potential
health benefits. Comprehensive reviews in Food
Science and Food Safety, 12 : 281 - 295.
SHAR MILI, K. AND MAN OH ARAN, S., 2018, Studies on
intercropping in rainfed little millet (Pa nicum
su ma tre nse). Intern ati ona l Jou rna l o f Curre nt
Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 7 (2) : 323 - 327.
SHARMILI, K. AND PARASURAMAN, P., 2018, Effect of little
millet-based pulses intercropping in rainfed conditions.
International Journal of Chemical Studies, 6 : 1073 -
1075.
SHARMILI, K., PARASURAMAN, P. AND SIVAGAMY, K., 2019,
Studies on intercropping in rainfed littlemillet (Panicum
suma tre nse). Inte rn ati ona l Jou rnal of Current
Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 8 (3) : 299 - 304.
Mysore J. Agric. Sci., 55 (4) : 1-10 (2021) K. SHARMILI AND M. YASODHA
10
The Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences
SHOBANA, S. AND MALLESHI, N. G., 2007, Preparation and
functional properties of decorticated finger millet
(Eleusine coracana). Journal of Food Engineering,
79 : 529 - 538.
SIGNOR, D. AND CERRI, C. P. E., 2013, Nitrous oxide emission
in agricultural soils: A review. Pesquisa Agropecuária
Tropical,43 : 322 - 338.
SINGH, D., MATHIMARAN, N., BOLLER, T. AND KAHMEN, A.,
2020, Deep-rooted pigeon pea promotes the water
relations and survival of shallow rooted finger millet
during drought-despite strong competitive interactions
at ambient water availability. PLoS ONE 15: Article No.
0228993. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone. 0228993.
SINGH, M. K., THAKUR, R., VERMA. U. N., PAL, S. K. AND
PASUPALAK, S., 1998, Productivity and nutri ent
management of maize + blackgram intercropping as
affected by fertilizer and plant density management
of blackgram. In dian Journal of Agronomy, 43 :
495 - 500.
SIVAGAMY, K., ANANTHI, K., KANNAN, P., VIJAYAKUMAR, M.,
SHARMILI, K., RAJES H, M., NIRMALAKU MAR I, A. A ND
PARASURAMAN, P., 2020, Studies on agro techniques to
improve the productivity and profitability of Samai +
redgram intercropping system under rainfed conditions.
International Journal of Current Microbiology and
Applied Sciences, 9 (6) : 4126 - 4130.
SIWELA, M., TAYLOR, J. R. N., DE MILLIANO, W. A. J. AND
DUODU, K. G., 2010, Influence of phenolics in finger
millet on grain and malt fungal load, and malt quality.
Food Chemistry, 121 : 443 - 449.
SONAWANE, P. D., RODGE, R. G. AND ATTARDE, D. R., 2007,
Effect of fertilizer, biofertilizer, intercropping system on
pearl millet under rainfed conditions. Jour nal of
Maharashtra Agricultural University, 32 : 176 - 178.
THAKUR, S. S. AND SHARMA, H. O., 2018, Trend and growth
of small millets production in Madhya Pradesh as
compa red to I ndia. I nter nati ona l Jour nal o f
Agricultural Science,10 : 4983 - 4986.
TRIPATHI, A. K. AND KUSHWAHA, H. S., 2013, Performance of
pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) intercropped with
pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) under varying fertility
levels in the rainfed environment of Bundelkh and
region. Annals Agricultural Research New Series, 34
: 36 - 43.
VELAYUTHAM, A. AND SOMASUNDARAM, E, 2000, Change of
management of pulses interc ropp ing system. In :
Recent advances in pulse crop production technology.
CAS training held at Centre for advanced studies in
agronomy. 13 Sept - 30 Oct. Tamil Nadu Agricultural
University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
WATANABE AND MITSURU., 1999, Antioxidative phenolic
compounds from Japa nese b arnyard mi llet
(Echinochloa utilis) grains. Journal of Agricultural
and Food Chemistry, 47 : 4500 - 4505.
XUE, Y., XIA, H., CHRISTIE, P., ZHANG, Z., LI, L. AND TANG, C.,
2016, Crop acquisition of phosphorus, iron and zinc
from soil in cereal / legume intercropping systems : A
critical review. Annals of Botany, 117 : 363 - 377.
YANG, C., FAN, Z. AND CHAI, Q., 2018, Agronomic and
economic benefits of pea/ maize intercropping systems
in relation to N fertilizer and maize density. Agronomy,
8 : Article No. 52. 10.3390/ agronomy8040052.
YOGESH, S., HALIKATTI, S. I., HIREMATH, S. M., POTDAR, M. P.,
HARLAPUR, S. I. AND VENKATESH, H., 2014, Light use
efficiency, productivity and profitability of maize and
soybean intercropping as influenced by planting
geometry and row proportion. Karnataka Journal of
Agricultural Science, 27 : 1 - 4.
ZOUGMORE, R., KAMBOU, F. N., OUATTARA, K. AND GUILLOBEZ,
S., 2000, Sorghum-cowpea intercropping: An effective
technique against runoff and soil erosion in the
Sahel (Sa ria, Burkina Faso). A rid Lan d
Research and Management, 14 : 329 - 342.
(Received : August 2021 Accepted : October 2021)
Mysore J. Agric. Sci., 55 (4) : 1-10 (2021) K. SHARMILI AND M. YASODHA
