Comparative productivity and profitability of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) based intercropping systems under protective irrigation on vertisol

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani during rabi seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18. Sixteen intercropping treatments including sole crops were tested in randomized block design. Safflower crop and intercrops viz., sorghum, wheat, chickpea, lentil and linseed were tested in 1:3 and 2:4 row proportions in replacement series. Safflower variety PBNS-12, sorghum variety Parbhani Moti, wheat variety Trimbak, chickpea variety Akash, lentil variety JL-3 and linseed variety PKVNL-260 were used. Pooled results revealed that safflower + chickpea (2:4) intercropping system recorded highest Safflower Equivalent Yield (2214 kg ha-1) followed by sole chickpea (2144 kg ha-1), sole safflower(2125 kg ha-1) and safflower + chickpea (1:3) intercropping system (2099 kg ha-1). Gross Monetary Returns, Net Monetary Returns and B: C ratio followed the similar trend. It can be concluded that safflower + chickpea (2:4) intercropping system is beneficial among all safflower based intercropping systems under protective irrigation on vertisol followed by sole chickpea, sole safflower and safflower + chickpea (1:3) intercropping system.