Productivity and profitability of fodder sorghum plus cowpea - chickpea cropping system as influenced by organic manure, phosphorus and sulphur application in central India

摘要

A field experiment was carried to find out the effect of phosphorus, sulphur and FYM on productivity and profitability of fodder sorghum + cowpea - chickpea cropping system during 2010-11 and 2011-12 at Jhansi. Experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications, comprising of two FYM levels, three P2O5 levels and two sulphur levels. Use of 60 kg P2O5 ha(-1) gave significantly higher dry fodder yield (11.0 x 10(3) kg ha(-1)) of sorghum + cowpea than 30 kg P2O5 ha(-1). Application of FYM (5 t ha(-1)) and sulphur (20 kg ha(-1)) gave significantly higher green fodder yield (41.7 x 10(3) and 41.3 x 10(3) kg ha(-1), respectively) than their respective controls. Chickpea responded to FYM application and recorded 14.2, 20.3 and 14.7 % increase in grains/pod, grain and stover yield, respectively. Application of 30 kg P2O5 ha(-1) produced 7.2, 13.4, 19.1 and 31.9 % higher plant m(-2), pods plant(-1), straw and grain yield, respectively over the control, however 60 kg P2O5 ha(-1) did not have significant difference from 30 kg P2O5 ha(-1). Sulphur application (20 kg S ha(-1)) to chickpea recorded increased branching and higher grain (9.0 %) and straw (11.4 %) yield over control. Significantly higher system productivity in term of chickpea equivalent yield was obtained with the application of 5 t FYM ha(-1), 30 kg P2O5 ha(-1) and 20 kg S ha(-1). The agronomic use efficiency (AUE) of P was 1.5 to 1.7 times higher at 30 kg P2O5 ha(-1) as compared to 60 kg P2O5 ha(-1). System profitability, net return and B: C ratio were also higher with the application of 5 t FYM ha(-1), 60 kg P2O5 ha(-1) and 20 kg S ha(-1) in fodder - food cropping system.