Studies on the Comparative Production Potential of Forage Based Cropping Sequences and Their Economic Feasibility in Western Plain Zone of U.P.

Abstract

The field experiments was conducted during 2017-18 at Crop Research Centre (Chirauri) of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.) to evaluate the Studies on the Comparative Production Potential of Forage Based Cropping Sequences and Their Economic Feasibility in Western Plain Zone of U.P. and chemical properties of soil. The area lie at a latitude of 29o 40’ North and longitude of 77o 42’ East with an elevation of 237 meters above mean sea level. The soil of the experimental field was well drained, sandy loam in texture (sand 60.70 %, silt 21.43 %, clay 17.87 %) and slightly alkaline in reaction (pH7.7). It was low in available nitrogen, and medium in available phosphorus and available potassium with an electrical conductivity 0.15 dSm-1. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with replicated four times with 06 forage based cropping sequences viz, T1 – Sorghum(Single cut) –Berseem, T2 – Sorghum(Single cut) - Oat(F), T3– Sorghum(F) + Cowpea(F) – Barley, T4 –Rice – Wheat, T5 –Maize(F) + Cowpea(F) – Berseem and T6 – Guar(F) – Garden pea(F) Among six crop sequences tested Maize(F) + Cowpea(F) – Berseem cropping sequence led to record the maximum productivity (1583.72 q/ha/) in terms ofberseem equivalent yield. Guar(F) – Garden pea(F) obtained minimum berseem equivalent yield (548 q/ha). Total dry matter yield was found maximum under Maize(F) + Cowpea(F) – Berseem (363.47 q/ha) and minimum in crop sequence Guar(F) – Garden pea(F) (153.51 q/ha). Total protein yield was recorded highest in crop sequence of Maize(F) + Cowpea(F) – Berseem (41.42 q/ha) where as lowest in Rice – Wheat (12.09 q/ha) crop sequence. Crop sequence Maize(F) + Cowpea(F) – Berseem recorded the maximum uptake of N (669.39 kg/ha) whereas minimum uptake of N was noted with Rice – Wheat (208.26 kg/ha). Total uptake of P was noticed maximum in Maize(F) + Cowpea(F) – Berseem (136.99 kg/ha) and minimum in Guar(F) – Garden pea(F) crop sequence (70.04 kg/ha). Uptake of K was highest in Maize(F) + Cowpea(F) – Berseem (523.69 kg/ha) and lowest in Rice – Wheat (157.59 kg/ha). The highest Gross return noticed in Maize(F) + Cowpea(F) – Berseem (304406 Rs ha-1) all the other treatment followed by Sorghum(Single cut) – Berseem (260338 Rs ha-1) and the Minimum Gross return in (136830 Rs ha-1) observed in Rice – Wheat cropping system. The maximum net return was recorded in Maize(F) + Cowpea(F) – Berseem (251264 Rs ha-1) and minimum in Rice – Wheat crop sequence and highest benefit cost ratio calculated in Maize(F) + Cowpea(F) – Berseem (4.72) and lowest (1.31) in Rice – Wheat crop sequence. On the basis of one year data pertaining concluded that the Maize(F) + Cowpea(F) – Berseem proved to be the best cropping system under western plain zone of Uttar Pradesh in terms of maximum berseem equivalent yield, Total protein yield, total dry matter yield. The total nitrogen uptake, total phosphorus uptake and total potassium uptake was also highest in T5 followed by Sorghum (Single cut) – Berseem with berseem equivalent yield. On the basis of economic evaluation such (Maize(F) + Cowpea(F) – Berseem) cropping sequence was recorded more beneficial then the other cropping sequence.