Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

Vol 25, Issue 1 2019; Page No.(242-245)

EVALUATION OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULING ON PERFORMANCE OF SUMMER LEGUMES GROWN IN ASSOCIATION OF SUGARCANE

S. Krishnaprabu

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2017 to find out an optimum irrigation schedule for intercrops grown in association with spring sugarcane, on silty clay-loam soil, having 23.4% moisture at field capacity and 8.6% at permanent wilting point (PWP). Daily evapotranspiration (ET) varied from 3.3 to 16.8 mm/day. Mungbean (Phaseolus radiatus L.), urdbean (P. mungo L.) and cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] gave highest yield of 4.1, 3.85 q/ha and 73.0 q/ha, respectively with irrigation at, IW: CPE ratio of 1.2 compared to 3.25, 2.75 and 6.10 q/ha with irrigations at flowering and pod-filling stage. All the intercrops reduced cane yield due to decline in number of millable canes and cane weight. Mean reduction in cane yield was 14.2% with cowpea, 11.5% with urdbean and 9.2% with mungbean. Irrigation at 1.2 IW: CPE ratio resulted in highest cane yield of 97.0 tonnes/ha, being respectively 3.7, 8.1 and 13.3% higher than IW: CPE ratio of 1.0, 0.8, and irrigations at critical growth stages. Sugarcane + cowpea gave highest mean cane equivalent yield (107.0 tonnes/ha), being 6.8, 10.0, and 8.7% more than sole sugarcane and intercropping with urdbean and mungbean respectively. Sugarcane intercropped with cowpea gave highest gross return of Rs 101,650/ha followed by sugarcane alone (Rs. 95,190) as against Rs. 92,435 with sugarcane + urdbean. Respective Benefit: cost ratio was 0.89, 0.90 and 0.73. Irrigation applied at 1.2 IW: CPE ratio gave significantly highest cane-equivalent yield (109.5 tonnes/ha) with benefit: cost ratio of 0.85 as against 92.4 tonnes/ha and 0.77 with irrigation at critical growth stages of intercrops.

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