Demonstration of Cotton + Redgram intercropping system under rainfed conditions of Telangana state

Introduction

Cotton is a major crop of Telangana state occupying 50 lakh ha though it is recommended for deep vertisols, farmers have been growing it in alfisols (65-70% of total area) under rainfed situations since two decades after introduction of Bt technology. Now a days Bt cotton yields are ranging from 1.0 to 1.2 t/ha. The crop is grown on diverse kinds of soils varying from fine textured black soils to coarse textured red soils. Most of the cotton area in the district is under rain fed conditions and faces different abiotic stresses during the crop growth period resulting in less yields and increase in input costs ultimately reduced the cost benefit ratio. Under such circumstances, intercropping cotton with other crops provides additional return, improves soil quality (if legume is included as intercrop), reduces climatic risks and chance of crop failure, enhances biodiversity and ensures greater use of resources (Maitra et al. 1999, 2001b; Maitra and Ray, 2019) [12,11,[9][10] . As a widely spaced crop, cotton provides ample scope for adoption of intercropping system. Intercropping is a traditional farming practice of growing of two or more crop species concurrently so that they coexist for a significant part of their growing cycle and that they interact among themselves and with agro-ecosystem (Maitra et al. 2019; Gitari et al. 2020; Maitra et al. 2020) [9-10, 3, 8] . In recent years, it is often recognized that intercropping system can produce higher yield than sole cropping system. Pigeon pea/Redgram being a predominantly rainfed crop is one of the most important and potential component of intercropping in semi-arid areas. Pigeonpea is suitable for intercropping with different crops like Cotton, Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Greengram, Blackgram, Maize, Soybean and Groundnut for increasing production and maintaining soil fertility. The initial slow growth rate and deep root system of Pigeonpea offers a good scope for intercropping with fast growing early maturing and shallow rooted crops Pigeonpea has more advantages when it is grown under intercropped situation. Keeping in view of the above, Redgram inter cropped with cotton has evolved as an alternative sustainable cropping system to sole cotton in rainfed conditions to improve the yields and income of the farmers in the Mahabubnagar districts of Telangana state. [11] .

Extension gap = Yield of Improved practice-Yield of farmers practice.

Technology gap = Potential yield -Yield of improved practice

Results and Discussion

The average plant population of sole cotton varied from 18,240 to 18,610 and mean population of three years is 18,389 and Cotton + Redgram plant population of Cotton and Redgram varies from 15,240+2490 to 15,560+2570 and mean population of three years is 15,357+2527.The plant population is not significantly affected due to introduction of Redgram in cotton due to similar spacing 90cmx 60 cm. In the Table 1 the results revealed that, the lower cotton yield was noticed in demo is 2136 kg/ha where as in higher cotton yields were noticed in sole cotton i.e., 2405 kg/ha due to cultivation of intercrop. Oad et al., (2007) [13] reported similar results. The yield advantage in intercropping is measured by using some competition functions like relative yield total (RYT), relative value total (RVT), and monetary advantage and base crop equivalent yield may be considered. In the cropping system/inter cropping system the yield of the system can be represented in equivalent yields of main crop. Highest crop equivalent yields recorded with Cotton+ Redgram intercropping system compare to sole cotton during the three years. The average cotton equivalent yield was 3025 kg/ha, 2382 kg/ha and 3698 kg/ha respectively during 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 and the mean cotton equivalent yield was 3035 kg/ha (Table 2). Generally the equivalent yields of any crops will depend on the yields and market price of main crop and inter crops. The average sole Cotton yields were 2000 kg/ha, 1900 kg/ha and 3316 kg/ha respectively during 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 and the mean sole cotton yield was 2405 kg/ha. The average increase in yield of demo were 51.25%, 25.36% and 11.51% over check (sole cotton) and mean increase of yield of demo is 29.37% over the check (Table 2). Blaise et al., 2005 [2] found that Cotton + Pigeonpea/Redgram intercropping was one of the effective crop combination where mean cotton equivalent yield recorded high over sole cotton. . The lower technology index was observed during the 2019-20 and 2017-18 due to higher yields recorded with the intercropping system (Demo). The mean cost of cultivation is 54320 Rs/ha and 53653Rs/ha for demo and check respectively (Table 3). Similar results also reported by Oad et al., 2007 [13] . The highest gross and net returns were recorded in Cotton + Redgram intercropping system (Demo) compare to sole cotton (Check) during all the study years. The mean gross returns Rs.144232 ha -1 and Rs. 119130 ha -1 and net reurns Rs.89912 ha -1 and Rs. 65476 ha -1 in demo and check respectively (Table 3). The higher gross and net returns were recorded in demo Cotton + Redgram intercropping over check sole cotton might be due to higher cotton equivalent yield, lower cost of cultivation during all the study years. Higher economics in improved cropping systems over sole cotton system can be attributed to higher cotton equivalent yield, market price of the both Cotton and Redgram. Similar findings also reported by Oad et al., 2007 [13] Gnansambbandan et al., 2000 [4] reported that under rainfed conditions Cotton + Redgram inter cropping system has shown positive combinations for better growth and yield contributing parameter and cost benefit ratio over sole cotton crop. Reddy et al., 2001 [14] found that there were enhanced crop yields in intercropping systems ultimately increased gross and net return over sole crop. The benefit cost ratio recorded highest in demo field adoption of Cotton + Redgram inter cropping system over check sole crop during all the three years. The mean benefit cost ratio was 2.47: 1 and 2.06: 1 for demo and check respectively. The benefit cost ratio will depend on the returns and cost of cultivation. The higher returns and lower cost of cultivation recorded in Cotton + Redgram intercropping system over sole cotton ultimately increased the benefit cost ratio in demo field over check. Similar findings also reported by Oad et al., 2007 [13] and Latheef Pasha et al., 2018 [6] . Krishna Reddy et al., 2001 [5] found that intercropping of Cotton+ Pigeon Pea/Redgram was beneficial than sole cropping of cotton in sense of monetary recoveries. The highest mean per day net returns recorded as Rs 592/ha in demo with adoption of Cotton + Redgram intercropping system over check Rs.429 /ha. This might be due to highest net returns recorded in intercropping system over sole cotton. Per day net returns value will depend on the net return and duration of the crops sown as intercrops and sole crops.

References

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