Synergistic effects of seedbed methods and legume intercropping on soil moisture conservation and productivity of groundnut in rainfed Alfisols

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during the moisture-limited north-east monsoon ( rabi ) seasons of 2020–2022 to evaluate the effects of seedbed methods and legume-based intercropping systems on groundnut growth, yield, soil moisture conservation, rainwater use efficiency (RWUE), groundnut equivalent yield (GEY), and post-harvest soil fertility under rainfed Alfisol conditions. The experiment was laid out in a strip-plot design with three seedbed methods as main plots (compartmental bunding, raised bed, and flatbed) and four intercropping systems as subplots (groundnut with black gram, cowpea, red gram, or castor in a 4:1 row ratio). The raised bed produced the numerically highest mean pod yield (528 kg ha −1 ) and RWUE (4.45 kg ha −1 mm −1 ). For both variables, it was statistically similar to compartmental bunding but superior to flatbed. Groundnut + cowpea produced the numerically highest mean pod yield among intercrops (499 kg ha −1 ). GEY and economic rankings were descriptive; raised bed + black gram had the highest GEY (803.17 kg ha −1 ) and net return (Rs. 16,190 ha −1 ) under the stated prices. The tables report treatment responses averaged over 3 years. A retrospective combined ANOVA with year as a fixed factor revealed highly significant year × treatment interactions for pod yield, biomass and RWUE (Year × Seedbed: F 4, 12 = 206.66, p < 0.0001; Year × Intercrop: F 6, 18 = 1,980.42, p < 0.0001; Year × Seedbed × Intercrop: F 12, 36 = 4,668.10, p < 0.0001), indicating that treatment rankings were not stable across the contrasting rainfall seasons (166–264 mm). Consequently, the results apply to the pooled 3-year average only and should be interpreted as conditional on comparable moisture-limited rabi conditions.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 2026 · DOI ↗