Intensification of maize (Zea mays) –based cropping sequence in rainfed ecosystem of Sikkim Himalayas for improving system productivity, profitability, employment generation and energy-use efficiency under organic management condition

Three-year (2012–13, 2013–14 and 2014–15) fixed plot field experiment was conducted at Research Farm, ICAR Sikkim Centre, Tadong with five maize (Zea mays L.) – based crop sequences, viz. maize–fallow, maize–rajmash, maize–toria, maize–buckwheat and maize (green cob)–urdbean–buckwheat to identify t...

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Main Authors: SUBHASH BABU, RAGHAVENDRA SINGH, R K AVASTHE, G S YADAV, D J RAJKHOWA
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Indian Council of Agricultural Research 2016-06-01
Series:The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IJAgS/article/view/58980
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author SUBHASH BABU
RAGHAVENDRA SINGH
R K AVASTHE
G S YADAV
D J RAJKHOWA
author_facet SUBHASH BABU
RAGHAVENDRA SINGH
R K AVASTHE
G S YADAV
D J RAJKHOWA
author_sort SUBHASH BABU
collection DOAJ
description Three-year (2012–13, 2013–14 and 2014–15) fixed plot field experiment was conducted at Research Farm, ICAR Sikkim Centre, Tadong with five maize (Zea mays L.) – based crop sequences, viz. maize–fallow, maize–rajmash, maize–toria, maize–buckwheat and maize (green cob)–urdbean–buckwheat to identify the resource efficient cropping systems under resource scarce, rainfed conditions of Sikkim Himalayas at an altitude of 1 300 amsl. Results showed that all the intensified cropping systems were significantly superior over maize–fallow system under rainfed condition of Sikkim at mid-altitude in terms of productivity, production efficiency, profitability, land use efficiency, employment generation and energy-use efficiency. However, among the intensified cropping sequence, maize (green cobs)–urdbean– buckwheat system was most resource efficient and recorded significantly higher values of system productivity (8.89 tonnes/ha), relative system production efficiency (24.36 kg/ha/day), net return (303.4 × 103 `/ha), B:C ratio (2.59) and system employment generation (285 man-days/ha) over other cropping systems. With regards to the energetics, cultivation of three crops {maize (green cob)–urdbean–buckwheat} in a year recorded 188.9%, 192%, 25.8% and 6.5% higher gross energy return, net energy return, energy use efficiency and energy productivity, respectively, over maize–fallow rotation of the region. Contrarily, maximum value of specific energy (MJ/kg) was recorded with maize-fallow and least with maize (green cob)–urdbean–buckwheat. This indicated that for the production of unit amount of grain, higher energy was required in maize–fallow system as compared to other diversified sequences.
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spelling doaj.art-4b16b447579a4f73ada6a333705f02dd2023-07-26T11:06:20ZengIndian Council of Agricultural ResearchThe Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences0019-50222394-33192016-06-0186610.56093/ijas.v86i6.58980Intensification of maize (Zea mays) –based cropping sequence in rainfed ecosystem of Sikkim Himalayas for improving system productivity, profitability, employment generation and energy-use efficiency under organic management conditionSUBHASH BABU0RAGHAVENDRA SINGH1R K AVASTHE2G S YADAV3D J RAJKHOWA4ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok 737 102ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok 737 102ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok 737 102ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Tripura Centre, Tripura 799 210ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya 793 103 Three-year (2012–13, 2013–14 and 2014–15) fixed plot field experiment was conducted at Research Farm, ICAR Sikkim Centre, Tadong with five maize (Zea mays L.) – based crop sequences, viz. maize–fallow, maize–rajmash, maize–toria, maize–buckwheat and maize (green cob)–urdbean–buckwheat to identify the resource efficient cropping systems under resource scarce, rainfed conditions of Sikkim Himalayas at an altitude of 1 300 amsl. Results showed that all the intensified cropping systems were significantly superior over maize–fallow system under rainfed condition of Sikkim at mid-altitude in terms of productivity, production efficiency, profitability, land use efficiency, employment generation and energy-use efficiency. However, among the intensified cropping sequence, maize (green cobs)–urdbean– buckwheat system was most resource efficient and recorded significantly higher values of system productivity (8.89 tonnes/ha), relative system production efficiency (24.36 kg/ha/day), net return (303.4 × 103 `/ha), B:C ratio (2.59) and system employment generation (285 man-days/ha) over other cropping systems. With regards to the energetics, cultivation of three crops {maize (green cob)–urdbean–buckwheat} in a year recorded 188.9%, 192%, 25.8% and 6.5% higher gross energy return, net energy return, energy use efficiency and energy productivity, respectively, over maize–fallow rotation of the region. Contrarily, maximum value of specific energy (MJ/kg) was recorded with maize-fallow and least with maize (green cob)–urdbean–buckwheat. This indicated that for the production of unit amount of grain, higher energy was required in maize–fallow system as compared to other diversified sequences. https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IJAgS/article/view/58980Cropping intensityDiversificationEnergeticsHill agricultureOrganicProfitability
spellingShingle SUBHASH BABU
RAGHAVENDRA SINGH
R K AVASTHE
G S YADAV
D J RAJKHOWA
Intensification of maize (Zea mays) –based cropping sequence in rainfed ecosystem of Sikkim Himalayas for improving system productivity, profitability, employment generation and energy-use efficiency under organic management condition
The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Cropping intensity
Diversification
Energetics
Hill agriculture
Organic
Profitability
title Intensification of maize (Zea mays) –based cropping sequence in rainfed ecosystem of Sikkim Himalayas for improving system productivity, profitability, employment generation and energy-use efficiency under organic management condition
title_full Intensification of maize (Zea mays) –based cropping sequence in rainfed ecosystem of Sikkim Himalayas for improving system productivity, profitability, employment generation and energy-use efficiency under organic management condition
title_fullStr Intensification of maize (Zea mays) –based cropping sequence in rainfed ecosystem of Sikkim Himalayas for improving system productivity, profitability, employment generation and energy-use efficiency under organic management condition
title_full_unstemmed Intensification of maize (Zea mays) –based cropping sequence in rainfed ecosystem of Sikkim Himalayas for improving system productivity, profitability, employment generation and energy-use efficiency under organic management condition
title_short Intensification of maize (Zea mays) –based cropping sequence in rainfed ecosystem of Sikkim Himalayas for improving system productivity, profitability, employment generation and energy-use efficiency under organic management condition
title_sort intensification of maize zea mays based cropping sequence in rainfed ecosystem of sikkim himalayas for improving system productivity profitability employment generation and energy use efficiency under organic management condition
topic Cropping intensity
Diversification
Energetics
Hill agriculture
Organic
Profitability
url https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IJAgS/article/view/58980
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