Performance of diversified cropping sequences for productivity, profitability and land use efficiency under south-eastern Rajasthan, India Tetarwal J.P.1,*, Ram Baldev1, Bijarnia Anju2, Singh Pratap3 1Associate Professor (Agronomy), Agricultural Research Station, Agriculture University, Ummedganj, Kota, Rajasthan, 324 001 2Senior Research Fellow, All India Coordinated Research Project on Integrated Farming System, Agricultural Research Station, Agriculture University, Ummedganj, Kota, Rajasthan, 324 001 3Professor (Agronomy) and Director Research, Directorate of Research, Agriculture University, Borkhera, Kota, Rajasthan, 324 001 *Corresponding author's Email: jptetarwal@gmail.com
Online published on 29 November, 2023. Abstract A field experiment was conducted during 4 consecutive years (2015-16 to 2018-19) at Agricultural Research Station, Ummedganj, Kota, Rajasthan to study the performance of diversified cropping sequences for productivity, profitability and land-use efficiency under south-eastern Rajasthan. The experiment comprised 10 cropping sequences in a randomized block design with 3 replications. Maximum soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] equivalent yield (8,507 kg/ha), production efficiency (31.16 kg/ha/day) and relative production efficiency (79.85%) were obtained in fodder sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]-bitter guard [Momordica charantia (L.)] (low tunnel) cropping sequence. The maximum land-use efficiency of (86.51%) was observed in direct-seeded rice [Oryza sativa (L.)] (short duration)-desi wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-summer greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] cropping sequence followed by short duration soybean-Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.)]-cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.)] Walp.] (vegetable + fodder) (81.85%) and sweet corn [Zea mays (L.)]-field pea (Pisum sativum var. arvenses (L.) Poir.)-onion [Allium cepa (L.)] (transplanted) (81.03%) crop sequences. Maximum and significantly higher net returns ( 163,240/ha) and relative economic efficiency (46.64%) were fetched in blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] (broad bed) + direct-seeded rice (furrow)-vegetable pea (broad bed) + coriander [Coriandrum sativum (L.)] (furrow)-spring greengram. The next best treatment was sweet corn-field pea-onion (transplanted), closely followed by quality protein maize (raised bed)-fennel [Foeniculum vulgare (L.)] (raised bed) to the tune of 39.23 and 36.69% over existing system, respectively. The maximum and significantly higher benefit: cost ratio (2.55) was fetched with quality protein maize (raised bed)-fennel (raised bed) cropping sequence, being at par with blackgram (broad bed) + direct-seeded rice (furrow)-vegetable pea (broad bed) + coriander (furrow)-spring greengram (2.52). Highest economic efficiency (612/ha/day) was recorded in soybean (short duration) + red gram [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] (2:1 row)-oat [Avena sativa (L.)] for fodder-summer greengram cropping sequence, followed by blackgram (broad bed) + direct seeded rice (furrow)- vegetable pea (broad bed) + coriander (furrow)- spring greengram (594/ha/day) and quality protein maize (raised bed)-fennel (raised bed) (590/ha/day). Directseeded rice (long duration)-berseem [Trifolium alexandrinum (L.)] (fodder) crop sequence had the lowest soybean-equivalent yield (4,546 kg/ha), production efficiency (16.79 kg/ha/day), relative production efficiency (- 3.89%), economic efficiency (348/ha/day) and relative economic efficiency (-15.43%). Thus, it can be concluded that blackgram (broad bed) + direct seeded rice (furrow)-vegetable pea (broad bed)-leafy coriander (furrow)-spring greengram was found more productive and remunerative cropping sequence followed by sweet corn-field pea-onion (transplanted) and quality protein maize (raised bed) -fennel (raised bed) as diversified cropping sequences for better productivity, profitability and land use efficiency compared to existing soybean-wheat cropping system under south-eastern Rajasthan, India. Top Keywords Crop diversification, Economics, Economic efficiency, Land use-efficiency, Production efficiency, System productivity. Top |