Assessment of Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] Based Cropping Systems in Mid-Hill Regions of Uttarakhand

Abstract

The research on productivity, energy-use efficiency and economics of pigeonpea based cropping system, viz., pigeonpea–wheat, pigeonpea – barley, pigeonpea – lentil, pigeonpea – field pea and pigeonpea – toria compared with rice–wheat cropping system was carried out at the Experimental Research Block of School of Agricultural Sciences, SGRRU, Uttarakhand. These cropping systems were evaluated under rainfed conditions. Results showed that all the pigeonpea – based cropping system were significantly superior to traditional rice – wheat cropping system in terms of productivity, net returns, benefit:cost ratio and net energy returns. Pigeonpea – lentil cropping system proved superior in terms of system net returns (Rs 63,616/ha), benefit:cost ratio (1.64) and energy ratio (1.94) to pigeonpea - wheat, pigeonpea – barley, pigeonpea - field pea and pigeonpea - toria cropping system. The plots under rice - wheat cropping system recorded the lowest pigeonpea-equivalent yield (1.32 t/ha), net returns (Rs 2,750/ha) and benefit:cost ratio (0.06). The nutrient status of the soil improved significantly due to pigeonpea – lentil cropping system over other cropping systems. Pigeonpea – lentil cropping system proved to be the best in terms of monetary returns, net energy return and soil productivity and hence, could be adopted in the mid-hill regions under rainfed conditions.