A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) and winter (rabi) seasons of 2010-11 and 2011-12 at Dharwad, Karnataka, to study the effect of sowing dates and cropping systems on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) and pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] under rainfed condition. Pooled data over 2 years indicated that, maize and pigeonpea sown during the first fortnight of June revealed significantly higher grain/seed yield compared to subsequent sowing dates except sowing during the second fortnight of June (7.06 and 1.15 t/ha respectively). Among the cropping systems, sole maize and pigeonpea gave significantly higher grain/seed yield (7.48 and 1.42 t/ha respectively) than the intercropping systems. Among the intercropping systems, maize + piegonpea system in (4 : 2) row ratio recorded significantly higher maize grain-equivalent yield (9.04 t/ha) followed by maize + piegonpea in row (2 : 2) ratio (8.48 t/ha). The later treatment resulted in higher net returns and benefit: costratio (56,787/ha and 3.17, respectively) than rest of the cropping systems. Among the interaction effects, intercropping of maize + pigeonpea in 4 : 2 row ratio sown during the first fortnight of June recorded significantly higher maize-equivalent yield(10.23 t/ha), net returns ( 66,665/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (3.16) over other system.
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