Maize (Zea mays)wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system: Intensification through introduction of pulses

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out in 3 tehsils, namely Nathdwara, Rajsamand and Kumbhalgarh, of Rajsamand district (Sub-humid Southern Plain and Aravalli Hills Zone) of Rajasthan (IVa) in farmers fields from rainy season (kharif) 2007 to winter season (rabi) 201011, to study the intensification of maize (Zea mays L.) wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.] cropping system through introduction of pulses crop. The ex- periment comprised 5 cropping systems, viz. maizewheat, maizebarley (Hordeum vulgare L.), maize + blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] (2:2)wheat, sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] + greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] (2:1)wheat and clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.]wheat. Maize + blackgram (2:2)wheat cropping system gave the highest maizegrain-equivalent yield (8.22 t/ha), gross returns (87.4 103 /ha), net returns (57.5 103 /ha), land-use efficiency (64.9%), production efficiency (34.7 kg/ha/ day), monetary efficiency (242.8 /ha/day), sustainable yield index (0.65), sustainable value index (0.55), relative productivity efficiency (21.3%), relative economic efficiency (17.4%) and total calorific value (94.7 103 MJ/ha) and could intensified the existing maizewheat cropping system. However, benefit: cost ratio was the maximum (3.18:1) in clusterbeanwheat cropping system. The maximum values of total input energy (36.97 103 MJ/ha), output energy (234.2 103 MJ/ha) and energy-output efficiency (988.3 MJ/ha/day) were recorded in maize + blackgram (2:2)wheat, while energy intensiveness (9.37 MJ/ ) and energy-use efficiency (7.88) in maizebarley cropping system. The maximum values of specific energy (5.10 MJ/kg) and energy productivity (240.0 MJ/ha/day) were recorded in maizewheat and clusterbeanwheat cropping systems respectively.