Tillage practices and mulching affect system productivity, profitability and energy use in Sesbania alley based food - fodder systems under rainfed agro-ecosystems of semi-arid tropics

Abstract

Context or problemThe low soil moisture availability in post rainy season is a major constraint for double cropping in rainfed agro-ecosystems. There are also trade-offs for use of crop residue as fodder and mulching material. Objective or research questionThe objective of the study to assess the crop productivity, profitability, forage quality and energy use in Sesbania alley based food-fodder systems. We hypothesized that soil tillage practices with Sesbania mulching would increase the system productivity, profitability and forage quality in rainfed agro-ecosystems. MethodsA four-years field experiment was conducted with Sesbania alley based food-fodder systems and three tillage practices with and without mulch. ResultsThe study revealed that Sesbania + (sorghum-mustard) and Sesbania + (sorghum-barley) cropping systems being at par, recorded significantly higher system productivity (59.4 t ha–1 and 58.7 t ha–1 respectively) and economic returns (US$ 504 ha–1) compared to Sesbania + (sorghum-chickpea) system (52.3 t ha–1). All the tillage practices, viz., conventional tillage in both the season (64.1 t ha−1); minimum tillage in rainy followed by zero tillage in winter season (63.5 t ha−1); and conventional tillage in rainy followed by zero tillage in winter season (60.1 t ha−1) with Sesbania mulching (SM), being at par, recorded significantly higher system productivity than their respective treatments without mulching. Sesbania mulching with all the above three tillage systems recorded 14.5%, 12.6% and 5.9% more net returns over their respective tillage practices without mulch, respectively. Among cropping systems, Sesbania + (sorghum-barley) was found most energy efficient which is at par with Sesbania + (sorghum-barley) but 28.2% higher over Sesbania + (sorghum-chickpea). The crude protein content of sorghum was 5–8% higher in Sesbania + (sorghum – chickpea) in comparison to other two cropping systems. ConclusionsOverall, innovative Sesbania alley based rainfed food-fodder system under reduced tillage and mulching improved system productivity, profitability, forage quality and energy use. Implications or significanceThe double cropping can be possible without compromising fodder needs if farmers used proper tillage and mulching practice in Sesbania alley based cropping systems.