Production potential and profitability of autumn sugarcane-based intercropping systems as influenced by intercrops and row spacing

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2000-2002 at Pantnagar, Uttaranchal, to study the feasibility of vari- ous intercrops with autumn sugarcane. Treatments comprising 12 combinations, 6 cropping systems, viz. sole sugarcane, sugarcane + lentillmustardlmaize/rajmash/rapeseed, as intercrop and 2 row spacings for sugarcane planting, viz. 75 cm, and 90 cm were tested in randomized block design. All the intercrops except maize, re- duced cane yield attributed to decline in number of millable canes. Mean reduction in cane yield was 8.7% with lentil, 14.8% with mustard, 13.3% with rajmash and 8.7% with rapeseed. Sugarcane planted at 90 cm spacing produced 9.5% higher cane yield than that at 75 cm. Sugarcane + maize gave the highest mean cane-equiva- lent yield (200.6 tonneslha) being 52.5, 45.4, 55.7, 50.0 and 48.6% higher than sole sugarcane and its intercrop- ping with lentil, mustard, rajmash and rapeseed, respectively. Sugarcane intercropped with maize gave highest net return of R s 124,8741ha followed by sugarcane alone (Rs 71 ,I 45) as against Rs 62,104; 65,067; 67,138 and 69,040 with intercropping of mustard, rajmash, rapeseed and lentil respectively. Row spacing for sugarcane of 90 cm gave higher cane equivalent yield and monetary return over 75 cm. [lentil : Lens culinaris Medikus; mustard : Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson; maize; Zea mays L.; rajmash: Phaseolus radiatus L.; rapeseed: Brassica napus]