Production potential and economic viability of food- forage based cropping system under irrigated conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted between 2001 and 2006 at Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) to evaluate the production potential, system productivity and economics of six food-forage based cropping system under irrigated conditions of Bundelkhand region. Groundnut ( Arachis hypogea L.) - berseem ( Tr ifolium alexandrinum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) - forage maize ( Zea mays L.) + forage cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L. Wilczek.) recorded significantly supe- rior forage equivalent yield (155.8 t/ha/year), system productivity (0.43 t/ha/day), net returns (Rs.56,670/ha/year) and benefit: cost ratio (1.62) than other sequences. The increase in forage equivalent yield and net returns with groundnut - berseem - maize (F) + cowpea (F) over groundnut - wheat ( Tr iticum aestivum L.) - green gram ( Phaseolus radiatus L. Walp.) was 35 and 44, respectively. Lowest net returns (Rs 29,575/ha/yr) was recorded with sorghum (single cut) - wheat - green gram. The crop sequence of sorghum (multi-cut) - berseem recorded higher B: C ratio (1.60) than groundnut - wheat - maize + cowpea (1.42) indicating higher returns from forage based sys- tems. Integration of forage maize + cowpea during summer in food-forage system (groundnut - wheat - maize + cowpea) recorded 44 % increase in production efficiency over food-based system. Inclusion of forages [(berseem or maize (F)+ cowpea(F)] in groundnut-based cropping system, was found quite stable with sustainability index of 0.96 and 0.92, respectively. Land use efficiency (100.0) and employment generation efficiency (1.02 man-days/ ha/day) were highest in round the year forage production system [Napier bajra hybrid + (cowpea-berseem) ] due to intensive cropping schedule. Soil physico - chemical status of food-forage based system was improved with re- spect to organic carbon (17%) and available N (12.7%) and P (27%) in 0-15 cm soil over initial level. Infiltration rate was improved from 1.05 to 2.11 mm/hr. Soil pH, electrical conductivity and bulk density were marginally reduced. However, available K status was slightly increased indicating that food-forage based system not only maintains soil fertility but improves over period of time. Based on system productivity and net returns, groundnut - berseem - maize (F) + cowpea (F) was found most efficient food - forage based system for Bundelkhand region closely fol- lowed by groundnut - wheat - maize (F) + cowpea (F) and sorghum (multicut) - berseem.