INTERCROPPING IN SUGARCANE UNDER RAIN GUN SPRINKLER IRRIGATION

摘要

In India, a state like Maharashtra where sugarcane is a major cash crop is facing serious problem of water shortage due to erratic and uneven nature of monsoon. As the water availability for agricultural production is a major constraint, its judicious use is very much essential for sustainable crop production. One of the ways to mitigate water scarcity situation is to adopt modern water management techniques like rain gun sprinkler irrigation in sugarcane crop. This technique has proved its importance in achieving the higher water and fertilizer use efficiency. The rain gun sprinkler irrigation (RGSI) has added advantage of irrigating complete field while irrigating any crop. The intercropping has an additive advantage in sugarcane crop for achieving the better monitory returns as compared to sole crop.Considering the importance of intercropping in sugarcane and rain gun sprinkler irrigation for efficient water and fertilizer management, the present study was undertaken at Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune during 2006-2007 to 2009-2010 for three crop seasons (Two Plant cane + One ratoon). Three intercrops viz. Lady's finger, cucumber and watermelon were cultivated in sugarcane crop under RGSI in paired row method of sugarcane planting. The results revealed that the highest monitory returns of Rs. 319285 per ha and cost benefit ratio of 1: 3.17 was recorded in lady's finger inter cropping in sugarcane under RGSI. The lady's finger is the most profitable intercrop in paired row method of sugarcane planting under RGSI in suru season among the different intercrops under study.