Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
Thirupathi I, M Rajshwar Naik, Shivakrishna Kota, Nagaraju Alugoju, U Sravanthi and B Sathish Kumar

Abstract:
A front line demonstration on production potential of cotton + redgram intercropping system under rainfed conditions in Mancherial district of Telangana state carried out in farmers fields during 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 under Krishi Vigyan Kendra of PJTSAU, Telangana. Intercropping of Cotton and Redgram was sown in 6:1 ratio with an objective of redgram as inter cropped with cotton is evolved as an alternative sustainable cropping system to sole cotton in rainfed conditions to improve the yields and income of the farmers in the Mancherial district of Telangana state. The average cotton equivalent yield was 2083 kg/ha, 2091 kg/ha and 1804 kg/ha respectively during 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 and the mean cotton equivalent yield was 1993 kg/ha. The mean increase of equivalent yield of demo is 15% over the check. The three years average mean LER value is 1.30 which denotes the benefits of an intercropping system to utilize the resources as against their pure stands. The higher gross(Rs. 1,17,069) and net returns (Rs. 98,338) in cotton + redgram intercropping over check sole cotton might be due to higher cotton equivalent yield, lower cost of cultivation during all the study years. The mean benefit cost ratio was 2.30: 1 and 1.71: 1 for demo and check respectively.