Production Potential of Cropping Systems for Rainfed Situations

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to find out the most suitable pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) based cropping system on sandy loam soil of Indian arid zone under rainfed and limited water availability situations. Among different pearl millet-based cropping systems, pearl millet-fallow-green gram-fallow proved -better in rainfed condition as it gave maximum pearl millet equivalent yield. It was followed by pearl miIIet-fallow-cIusterbean-fallow system. Under limited water availability situation, the double cropping system of pearl millet-mustard was found better than pearl millet-isabgol system. Highest land utilization efficiency (LUE) was recorded in pearl millet-mustard sequence (60.3%) among double cropping systems, and under continuous pearl millet cropping (27.4%) under mono-cropping system. From the view point of sustainability, pearl millet + senna (Cassia angustifolia L.) strip cropping system was more sustainable (SYI = 0.81), whereas continuous pearl millet cropping (SYI = 0.09) was least sustainable. Cultivation of mustard resulted in maximum build up of soil organic carbon followed by legumes (clusterbean or green gram).