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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp5 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Impact of small millet-legume preceding cropping system on toria performance, oil productivity and soil fertility in the NEH Region of India

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13345
Submitted
25 December 2025
Published
21-09-2026

Abstract

A two-year field study (2023–24 to 2024–25) was undertaken at the College of Post Graduate Studies (CPGS) farm Kyrdemkulai, Meghalaya, India, to evaluate the residual impact of millet–legume-based cropping systems on growth, productivity and oil quality of toria (Brassica rapa var. toria) including soil fertility. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design (RBD) with 12 millet–legume intercropping combinations under additive (1 : 1 and 1 : 2) and replacement (1 : 1) series, along with four monocultures of finger millet, foxtail millet, soybean and green gram as controls. Growth traits (plant height, branching), yield parameters and soil properties were significantly influenced by the preceding systems. Sole legumes, particularly soybean and green gram, along with millet–legume additive combinations, recorded superior performance, with toria seed yield ranging from 649.6–854.8 kg ha-1 and mean oil content of 33.0–34.6 %, resulting in oil yield of 222.6–290.8 kg ha-1. Soil analysis showed notable improvements under legume-inclusive treatments, with available nitrogen (266.5–306.2 kg ha-1), phosphorus (25.6–37.0 kg ha-1), potassium (207.0–265.2 kg ha-1), organic carbon (1.02–1.26 %) and enzyme activities (urease: 24.97–27.97 µg NH₄- g-1 soil hr-1; protease: 14.06–16.18 µg tyrosine g-1 soil hr-1; dehydrogenase: 105.5–131.2 µg TPF g-1 soil 24 hr-1) surpassing sole millet and control plots. The findings demonstrate that millet-legume sequences, especially those including sole legumes and additive intercropping, enhance toria productivity, oil yield and soil health, providing a sustainable cropping strategy for marginal rainfed systems in the NEH Region.

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