Relative Performance of Different Food and Forage Based Cropping Systems in Semi-Arid Tropics

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at All India Co-ordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Forage crops, Hyderabad in a randomized block design with four replications to evaluate six Food - Forage crop based cropping systems under irrigated conditions during 2001–02 to 2005–06. The treatments were viz., best food crop rotation of the region (Sorghum+ Redgram- Tomato), best forage crop rotation of the region (Maize-Berseem-Cowpea), inclusion of best kharif forage crop in the rotation {Sorghum+ Cowpea(F)-Castor(Seed}, inclusion of best rabi forage crop in the rotation {Maize(G)-Lucerne(F)-Lucerne (G)}, inclusion of best summer forage crop in the rotation {Sunflower(G)-Cowpea(G)-Multicut sorghum(F)} and round the year forage crop rotation {NB hybrid (perennial)+(Cwpea in kharifand Berseem in rabi)}.The forage based cropping system i.e., NB hybrid+Cowpea (kharif) and Berseem (rabi) system recorded significantly higher forage equivalent yield (213.02 t ha−1), production efficiency (0.58 t ha−1 day−1) and economic efficiency (Rs. 167.6 ha−1day−1) over other cropping systems but at par with that of Sorghum+Redgram-Tomato system (205.75 t ha−1). Net returns (Rs. 61,190 ha−1year−1) and Benefit: Cost ratio (2.86) were maximum with NB hybrid+cowpea (kharif) and berseem (rabi) system followed by Sorghum (G)+Redgram (G)-Tomato fruit (Rs. 50,820 ha−1 year−1 and 2.69) and Maize (G)-Lucerne (F)-Lucerne (G) system ((Rs. 45,760 ha−1year−1 and 2.63). The pH and electrical conductivity values of soil at the end of five years showed slight variation only from initial values indicating negligible effect of various cropping systems. However, NB Hybrid (perennial)+Cowpea and Berseem) cropping system was found to be highly efficient in removing nutrients from soil as evident through available nutrients in soil (145: 11.56: 225.66 kg N, P2O5, K2O ha−1). Adoption of Maize-Lucern (F)-Lucern (G) system improved the soil available phosphorus to 14.36 kg ha−1 from initial value of 12.27 kg ha−1. Soil organic carbon declined from 0.60% to 0.59% due to adoption of Sorghum+Cowpea (F)+Castor (G), while it showed improvement to 0.61 or 0.62% due to other cropping systems.