Vol. 11, Issue 10 (2022)

Author(s):
Dr. YG Patil, Dr. KD Mevada, Dr. GM Vaghela and Dr. MR Bedis

Abstract:
An agronomical experiment, maize with chickpea intercropping system conducted to work out the economic potential, equivalent yield and land equivalent ratio under middle Gujarat condition. The experiment was carried out at College Agronomy Farm, Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat) during rabi and summer season of 2019-20 and 2020-21 on loamy sand soils found low in organic carbon and available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and potassium with slightly alkaline in reaction. The treatment comprised of total six different intercropping treatments viz., T1 - Sole maize, T2 - Sole chickpea, T3 - maize + chickpea 1:1 (Additive series), T4 - maize + chickpea 1:1 (Replacement series), T5 - maize + chickpea 2:1 (Paired row) and T6 - maize + chickpea 2:2 (Paired row) set up under randomized block design. The economics worked for intercropping and sole cropping situation differed significantly with regard to gross return and net profit per hectare. Treatment T3 - maize + chickpea 1:1 Additive series recorded significantly the highest gross profit (₹1.929 lakh/ ha) followed by T6 - maize + chickpea 2:2 Paired row (₹1.573 lakh/ ha) and in sole cropping treatment T1 - Sole maize (₹1.271 lakh/ha). Similarly highest net profit was obtained by cultivating maize + chickpea 1:1 Additive series (₹1.633 lakh/ ha) followed by T6 - maize + chickpea 2:2 Paired row (₹1.278 lakh/ ha) and in sole cropping treatment T1 - Sole maize (₹1.005 lakh/ ha). Same trend observed in Maize equivalent yield and Land equivalent ratio were concerned, treatment with maize + chickpea 1:1 (Additive series) produced highest MEY (82.77 Qt/ha), covered highest LER (1.49) and fetched the highest BCR (6.51) value as compared to remaining intercropping treatments.