Economic Advantage of Sorghum Based Intercropping System for Western Zone of Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Sorghum is the fifth most important crop. Being a C4 crop, it can withstand adverse climatic conditions. It can be used for food, feed, fodder, and biofuel. Sorghum can perform better under future climatic conditions than other crops and can be a better option in the future that can ensure the food and nutritional security of the country. A sorghum-based intercropping system can be a great option to ensure sustainability by fetching additional income from legume crops without compromising the yield of sorghum. An experiment was conducted at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during the summer of 2021 to evaluate the economic benefits of a sorghum-based intercropping system. The treatment consists of T1-Sorghum Sole crop, T2-2rows of Sorghum+2rows of Cowpea, T3-2rows of Sorghum+1row of Cowpea, T4-2rows of Sorghum+2rows of Greengram, T5-2rows of Sorghum+1rows of Greengram, T6-2rows of Sorghum+2rows of Lablab, T7-2rows of Sorghum+1rows of Lablab. The economic benefits of the cropping system were evaluated by considering the yield, BCR, and LER. The yield of sorghum (3 t ha-1) planted under T7 was significantly higher than that of sole sorghum (T1). The net return from T7 (₹ 67872 ha-1) was higher than other treatments because of the additional income generated from the lablab (high market value at the time of harvest). The B:C ratio of the intercropping system was 2.7, whereas sole sorghum registered the lowest BCR of 1.9. The compatible performance of the intercropping system yielded a higher net return and BCR. Hence, intercropping of sorghum with legumes (especially lablab) is more productive and remunerative under a 2:1 pattern compared to sole cropping.