Comparative studies of growth attributes and their economic feasibility in western zone of U.P.

Abstract

The field experiments was conducted during 2016-17 at Crop Research Centre (Chirauri) of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.) to evaluate 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 experiment was conducted in randomized block design with replicated four times with 06 forage based cropping sequences viz., Sorghum (F) –Berseem - Maize (F) + Cowpea (F), Sorghum (F) + Guar (F) - Oat (F) - Maize (F) + Cowpea (F), Sorghum (F) + Cowpea (F) - Barley (F) - Maize (F) + Cowpea (F), Rice - Wheat - Maize (F) + Cowpea (F), Rice – Berseem - Sorghum (F), Sorghum (F) + Cowpea (F) – Wheat - Sorghum (F) + Cowpea (F). Among six crop sequences tested Sorghum (F) – Berseem - Maize (F) + Cowpea (F) cropping sequence led to record the maximum productivity (2019.57 q/ha/year) in terms of berseem equivalent yield as well as production efficiency of (8.20 q/ha/day). Rice – Wheat - Maize (F) + Cowpea (F) obtained minimum berseem equivalent yield (1136.71 q/ha/year) and production efficiency of (3.64 q/ha/year), but it recorded maximum (85.479%) land use efficiency. Sorghum (F) + Cowpea (F) - Barley (F) - Maize (F) + Cowpea (F) crop sequence registered minimum (58.082%) land use efficiency. Total dry matter yield was found maximum under Sorghum (F) – Berseem - Maize (F) + Cowpea (F) (420.60 q/ha) and minimum in crop sequence Sorghum (F) + Cowpea (F) – Wheat -Sorghum (F) + Cowpea (F) (250.66 q/ha). Total protein yield was recorded highest in crop sequence of Sorghum (F) - Berseem - Maize (F) + Cowpea (F) (38.40 q/ha) where as lowest in Sorghum (F) + Cowpea (F) – Barley (F) - Maize (F) + Cowpea (F) (19.40 q/ha) crop sequence. Crop sequence Sorghum (F) – Berseem - Maize (F) + Cowpea (F) recorded the maximum uptake of N (620.55 kg/ha) where as minimum uptake of N was noted with Sorghum (F) + Cowpea (F) - Wheat - Sorghum (F) + Cowpea (F) (283.68 kg/ha). Total uptake of P was noticed maximum in Rice – Berseem – Sorghum (F) (144.24 kg/ha) and minimum in Sorghum (F) + Guar (F) – Oat (F) – Maize (F) + Cowpea (F) crop sequence (52.12 kg/ha). Uptake of K was highest in Sorghum (F) –Berseem - Maize (F) + Cowpea (F) (608.68 kg/ha) and lowest in Sorghum (F) + Cowpea (F) – Wheat – Sorghum (F) + Cowpea (F) (253.50 kg/ha).