Productivity and profitability of wheat (Triticum aestivum)-based cropping systems under different nutrient-management practices

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi), summer and rainy (kharif) seasons of 201112 and 201213 at New Delhi, to evaluate the productivity, profitability and land-use efficiency of 4 wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.]-based cropping systems involving wheat, vegetable cowpea [Vigna sinensis (L.) Walp.], mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek], maize (Zea mays L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), and under 4 nutrients-management practices. System productivity of wheat-based cropping system in terms of wheat- equivalent yield (WEY) was significantly the highest under wheatfallowmaizepotato (14.12 t/ha and 15.02 t/ ha), followed by wheatvegetable cowpeamaize (11.54 t/ha and 12.78 t/ha) during both the years. The land-use efficiency was comparatively higher in wheatvegetable cowpeamaize and wheatmungbeanmaize systems than to wheatfallowmaizepotato and wheatfallowmaize systems during both the years. Wheatfallow maizepotato system recorded the highest system production efficiency (37.86 and 41.16 kg WEY/ha/day), whereas wheatvegetable cowpeamaize recorded highest system economic efficiency ( 339 and 416/ha/day). Wheatvegetable cowpeamaize recorded maximum net returns ( 123.7 103/ha and 151.7 103/ha) during both the years. Application of 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) in wheat, vegetable cowpea, mungbean, maize and potato gave significantly highest yield, followed by 50% RDF + 50% RDN through FYM and 50% RDF + 25% RDN through FYM + biofertilizers during the first years. However, all these 3 treatments did not differ significantly during the second year. Highest wheat equivalent yield (WEY) was achieved with the applica- tion of 100% RDF followed by 50% RDF + 50% RDN through FYM and 50% RDF + 25% RDN through FYM + biofertilizers during the first years. However, all these three treatments did not differ significantly during the second year. Substitution of either 50% or 25% RDN through FYM and biofertilizers significantly increased the available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content at the harvest of different crops over control as well as 100% RDF alone.