Energetics and economic comparisons of in-situ moisture conservation practices in maize-blackgram cropping system in dryland ecosystem
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53550/Keywords:
B:C ratio, Cropping systems, Energetics, Intercropping, Runoff, Soil loss, Strip croppingAbstract
A field study was conducted at Dryland Farming Research Station, Arjia, Bhilwara (Rajasthan) during the kharif seasons of 2007 and 2008, to assess crop productivity, energetics and economics of in-situ moisture conservation practices in maizeblackgram based cropping system under dryland ecosystem. Among the different cropping systems, strip cropping of maize-blackgram (4:8) was most effective in improving energetic and economics of maize equivalent yield by 98.4% over control (maize + blackgram intercropping 2:2 ratio). Ridging after first intercultural operation (RAFIO) reduced the runoff by 25% in 2007 and 28% in 2008 over deep tillage and 44 to 45% over shallow tillage in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The RAFIO decreased the runoff by 25 to 28% over deep tillage and 44 to 45% over shallow tillage during respective years. Similarly, the deep tillage decreased the runoff by 52 and 51% in paired intercropping and strip cropping, respectively over shallow tillage. RAFIO increased mean maize grain equivalent yield by 27 to 41% over deep tillage and by 36 to 48% over shallow tillage in strip cropping and paired intercropping, respectively. Similarly, mean net returns in RAFIO increased by 39 to 106% over deep tillage and by 68 to 157% over shallow tillage, respectively. In deep tillage, yield increased by 40 and 39% under strip cropping and inter cropping system, respectively. In maize, fertilizer accounted higher share of energy input (43.02-76.69%) followed by tillage (4.15-32.60%) under different in-situ moisture conservation practices under maize-blackgram cropping system.
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