A study was conducted to evaluate different crop sequences under limited-period irrigation conditions at farmers' fields in four villages of Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh during 2007-08. Six crop sequences, viz., Soybean-Garlic, Soybean-Onion, Soybean-Wheat, Soybean-Potato, Green gram-Radish-Potato and Green gram-Potato-Wheat were compared. Results revealed that crop sequence had remarkable influence on various competition indices. Highest potato equivalent yield (506.25q/ha) was recorded in green-gram- radish-potato crop sequence, followed by soybeangarlic, green-gram-potato-wheat and soybean-potato crop sequences. Land Utilization Index (LUI) was highest in green-gram-potato-wheat crop sequence and minimum in soybean-garlic and soybean-potato (both at 0.64) crop sequences. Green-gram-radish-potato crop sequence attained highest production efficiency (200.89kg/ha per day). Highest cost of input, output and net returns were obtained in greengram-radish-potato crop sequence whereas, Cost: Benefit ratio was maximum under soybean-onion crop sequence, followed by soybean-wheat and green-gram-radishpotato sequence

Gupta, B S

Kushwah, S S

Singh, O P

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S S Kushwah

O P Singh

B S Gupta

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India faces the challenge of a burgeoning populationand increasing demand for food, fibre and fuel. Cropintensification is a well-recognized solution for increasingproductivity in a system (Gangwar and Katyal, 2001). Foodof the future, potato holds a potential for higher quantityand quality produce per unit area besides spanning over ashort duration of 60-80 days (Rawal et al, 2003). Malwaregion of Madhya Pradesh, particularly Mandsaur andNeemuch districts, experience acute water scarcity duringsummer every year. The region largely grows soybean inkharif, and wheat, gram, garlic and onion in the rabi season.Generally, two crops are taken a year which not only limitsproductivity of a system, but also its land-utilizationefficiency. Hence, a need is felt for crop intensification anddiversification to make farming sustainable and economicallyviable. Therefore, the present study was planned to evaluatedifferent crop sequences in the Malwa region of MadhyaPradesh.A study was conducted to evaluate different cropsequences under limited period of irrigation at farmers’ fieldsShort communicationEvaluation of potato-based crop sequences for crop diversification inMalwa region of Madhya PradeshS.S. Kushwah, O.P. Singh1 and B.S. Gupta2Department of Vegetable ScienceCollege of Horticulture, Mandsaur – 458001, IndiaE-mail : kushwahhort@rediffmail.comABSTRACTA study was conducted to evaluate different crop sequences under limited-period irrigation conditions at farmers’fields in four villages of Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh during 2007-08.  Six crop sequences, viz., Soybean-Garlic,Soybean-Onion, Soybean-Wheat, Soybean-Potato, Green gram-Radish-Potato and Green gram-Potato-Wheat werecompared. Results revealed that crop sequence had remarkable influence on various competition indices. Highestpotato equivalent yield (506.25q/ha) was recorded in green-gram- radish-potato crop sequence, followed by soybean-garlic, green-gram-potato-wheat and soybean-potato crop sequences. Land Utilization Index (LUI) was highest ingreen-gram-potato-wheat crop sequence and minimum in soybean-garlic and soybean-potato (both at 0.64) cropsequences. Green-gram-radish-potato crop sequence attained highest production efficiency (200.89kg/ha per day).Highest cost of input, output and net returns were obtained in greengram-radish-potato crop sequence whereas, Cost:Benefit ratio was maximum under soybean-onion crop sequence, followed by soybean-wheat and green-gram-radish-potato sequence.Key words: Limited irrigation, crop diversification, crop sequence, potatoin four villages of Malwa (Mandsaur-Neemuch) region,Madhya Pradesh, during 2007-08.  Six crop sequences, viz.,Soybean (JS-71-05)-Garlic (G-1), Soybean (JS-335)-Onion(Agrifound Light Red), Soybean (JS-335)-Wheat (WH-147),Soybean (JS-335)-Potato (Kufri. Jyoti), Green gram (JM-721)-Radish (Japanese White)-Potato (Kufri. Laukar),Green gram (JM-721)-Potato (Kufri. Jyoti)-Wheat (Lok-1)were compared in randomized block design with fourreplications. Varieties were selected on the basis of theirsuitability to fit into the crop sequence and their adaptabilityin the region, and, acceptance among farmers. Standardpackage of practices was followed to raise the crops. Potatocrop in the Green gram–Potato–Wheat crop sequence washarvested on 18th December, without allowing maturing andcuring after dehaulming in the field so that wheat crop couldbe sown by 25th December. Yield of various crops wasrecorded and converted into potato equivalents on the basisof price (Govindakrishnan et al, 1990). Land Utilization Index(LUI) was calculated by dividing the total number of daysdifferent crops of a sequence remained in the field in a period1Department of Plant Physiology2Department of Extension EducationJ. Hortl. Sci.Vol. 6(2):166-168, 2011167spanning 365-days. Production efficiency was calculatedby dividing Potato Equivalent Yield (PEY) by total numberof days held by different crops of a sequence in the field.Economic analysis was carried out on the basis of cost ofdifferent inputs and produce prevalent in the region at thetime of the experiment. Formulae used for calculation ofPotato equivalent Yield (q/ha) and Production Efficiency(kg/day/ha) are given below:Yield of the produce (q/ha) XPrice of the produce (`./q)Potato Equivalent Yield (PEY) (q/ha) =  -------------------------------------------------------Price of potato (`./q)Potato Equivalent YieldProduction efficiency (kg/day/ha)    =   -------------------------------------------------------Duration of the sequence (days)Results revealed that crop sequences had aremarkable influence on various competition indices. HighestPEY (506.25q/ha) was recorded with green-gram–radish-potato crop sequence, followed by soybean-garlic, green-gram-potato-wheat and soybean-potato crop sequences.Soybean-wheat crop sequence yielded lowest (119.33q/ha)PEY. Higher yield of potato due to longer crop durationthan in potato crop under green-gram-potato-wheat cropsequence, higher prices of green gram; and, inclusion ofshort duration radish crop all resulted in superiorperformance of green-gram-radish-potato crop sequencecompared to other crop sequences. Similar positive effectof crop duration on tuber yield has also been reported byPraharaj et al (2001). Chatrath and Singh (2010) found delayin sowing to have a negative impact on wheat yield. LandUtilization Index (LUI) was highest in green-gram-potato-wheat crop sequence, and minimum with soybean-garlic andsoybean-potato (both 0.64) crop sequences. Rest of the cropsequences showed LUI in the range of 0.68-0.70. Productionefficiency of a cropping sequence can form a good criterionfor selection, particularly under conditions of limited periodirrigation. Data (Table 1) showed that green-gram-radish-potato crop sequence attained highest production efficiency(200.89 kg/ha/day), followed by soybean-garlic (170.52 kg/ha/day), soybean-potato (156.89 kg/ha/day) and soybean-onion (142.10 kg/ha/day). Soybean-wheat crop sequenceshowed lowest production efficiency. Data on cost of inputand output (Table 2) showed that maximum expenditure wasincurred on green-gram-radish-potato crop sequence,followed by soybean–garlic and, minimum under soybean-wheat crop sequence. Higher cost of seed and greaterrequirement of labour under these crop sequences could bea reason for the higher cost of inputs. Maximum output wasrealized under green-gram-radish-potato crop sequence,followed by soybean-garlic. Similarly, highest net return wasTable 1.  Effect of cropping sequence on various competition indicesCrop sequence Yield (q/ha) Potato Land Production1st crop 2nd  crop 3rd  crop Equivalent Utilization efficiencyYield (q/ha) Index (LUI) (kg/ha/day)Soybean - Garlic 21.3 95.3 - 397.31 0.64 170.52 Soybean - Onion 23.5 312.6 - 356.66 0.68 142.10Soybean - Wheat 24.6 48.8 - 119.33 0.70   46.80Soybean - Potato 24.1 275.5 - 368.69 0.64 156.89Green gram - Radish-Potato 15.2 133.4 263.5 506.25 0.69 200.89Green gram - Potato -Wheat 14.8 248.7 33.5 372.95 0.78 130.85SEm ± 15.05CD (P=0.05) 45.34Table 2. Cost of input, output and net returns under different cropping sequencesCrop sequence Input (Rs./ha) cost Output (Rs./ha) Total Net *C:B ratioReturn (Rs/ha)1st crop 2nd crop 3rd crop Total 1st crop 2ndcrop 3rdcrop TotalSoybean - Garlic 7950 73500 - 81450 31950 285900 - 317850 236400 1 : 3.90Soybean - Onion 7950 41530 - 49480 35250 250080 - 285330 235850 1 : 5.77Soybean - Wheat 7950 12650 - 20600 36900   58560 -   95460   74260 1 : 4.50Soybean - Potato 7950 55310 - 63260 36150 258800 - 294950 193290 1 : 3.06Green-gram- Radish - Potato 4560 31950 55310 91820 52800 121400 230800 405000 313180 1 : 4.41Green-gram - Potato -Wheat 4560 55310 12650 72520 51200 202160 45000 298360 225840 1 : 4.11Expenditure includes cost of all inputs used for raising the crop, e.g., seed, fertilizer, labour etc. prevailing at the time of study. For calculatingeconomics under different crop sequences, grain/bulb/root/tuber yield was considered. Prevailing prices of soybean, garlic, onion, wheat, potato,green gram and radish were: Rs. 15, 30, 8, 12, 8, 40 and 10 per kilogram, respectively*C:B = Cost:BenefitPotato-based crop sequencesJ. Hortl. Sci.Vol. 6(2):166-168, 2011168with green-gram-radish-potato crop sequence, followed bysoybean–garlic crop sequence. Soybean–wheat cropsequence resulted in lowest net return. Cost:Benefit ratioshowed maximum receipt per rupee invested undersoybean-onion crop sequence, followed by soybean-wheatand green-gram-radish-potato crop sequences. It is importantto note that, presently, soybean-garlic and soybean-onionare popular crop sequences in the region. These canbeneficially replaced with green-gram-radish-potato andsoybean-potato crop sequences, respectively for betterreturns.REFERENCESChatrath, R. and Singh, S.K.  2010. Productivity improvementin rice-wheat cropping system. Ind. Farming,60:12-17Gangwar, B. and Katyal, V. 2001. Productivity, stability andprofitability of rice (Oryza sativa)- based cropsequences in West Bengal and Orissa. Ind. J.Agron., 46:387-394Govindakrishnan, P.M., Upadhyay, N.C.,  Grewal, J.S. andPremchand. 1990. An analysis of potato based cropsequences. Ind. J. Agron., 35:40-43Praharaj, C.S., Kumar, D., Sharma, R.C. and Paul Khurana,S.M. 2001. Potato-wheat-paddy: A new emergingalternative crop rotation for Indo-Gangetic plains. J.Ind. Potato Assoc., 28:44-45Rawal, S., Lal, S.S., Singh, B.P., Paul Khurana, S.M. andKumar, P. 2003. Evaluation of potato, rice and wheatvarieties for rice-potato-wheat system. J. Ind. PotatoAssoc., 30:95-96(MS Received 14 March 2011, Revised 16 July 2011)Kushwah et alJ. Hortl. Sci.Vol. 6(2):166-168, 2011

Evaluation of Potato-Based Crop Sequences for Crop Diversification in Malwa Region of Madhya Pradesh

Journal of Horticultural Sciences

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Evaluation of Potato-Based Crop Sequences for Crop Diversification in Malwa Region of Madhya Pradesh

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