Economic analysis of surface and sub-surface drip fertigated maize (Zea mays)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) system under different nutrient management practices and irrigation schedules

ARPULA  SAIRAM; KHAJANCHI  LAL; SUSAMA  SUDISHRI; MANOJ  KHANNA; P S  BRAHMANAND; YASHBIR SINGH  SHIVAY; GERARD  ABRAHAM; VED PRAKASH  MEENA

doi:10.56093/ijas.v96i1.162505

Authors

ARPULA SAIRAM ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
KHAJANCHI LAL ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
SUSAMA SUDISHRI National Rainfed Area Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi
MANOJ KHANNA ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
P S BRAHMANAND ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
YASHBIR SINGH SHIVAY ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
GERARD ABRAHAM ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
VED PRAKASH MEENA ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v96i1.162505

Keywords:

B:C ratio, Drip fertigation, Economic analysis, Natural farming, Organic farming

Abstract

The study was carried out during two consecutive years (2022–23 and 2023–24) in both rainy (kharif) and winter (rabi) seasons at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to analyse the financial viability of various nutrient management options i.e. chemical, organic, integrated, and natural farming in maize (Zea mays L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system irrigated at 0.8 and 1.0 crop evapotranspiration (ETc) for surface drip (SDI) and sub-surface drip irrigation (SSDI). The effects were also compared with the farmers’ conventional practice of surface irrigation and soil application of 100% of the recommended nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertiliser doses. The system maize equivalent yield (SMEY) obtained with the integrated nutrient management (50% RDN through FYM + vermicompost and 50% RDN through chemical fertilisers) was found to be the higher and at par with that of the chemical nutrient management (10.6 Mg/ha) and conventional system (10.3 Mg/ha) but 14% and 24% higher compared to organic and natural farming nutrient management options, respectively. SMEY productivity was found equal in SDI and SSDI but improved significantly at irrigation schedule of 1.0 ETc compared to 0.8 ETc. At the system level, integrated nutrient management under drip irrigation used substantially less water (2270–2973 m³/ha) than surface irrigation (100% RDF) (4650 m³/ha), while simultaneously achieving higher system water use efficiency (3.61–4.78 kg/m³) compared with surface irrigation (2.23 kg/m³). The soil properties (available K, microbial carbon and dehydrogenase activity) were found significant in organic and chemical methods. Due to less input cost, the cost of cultivation in natural farming was 12, 20 and 17% lower than that in chemical, organic and integrated nutrient management options, respectively. Pooled analysis showed that integrated nutrient management recorded the highest gross returns, net income, and benefit-cost ratio in the maize–wheat system, with SSDI at 1.0 ETc plus integrated nutrients producing 17% higher net income than conventional surface irrigation with soil-applied NPK.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Brar A S, Buttar G S, Singh M, Singh S and Vashist K K. 2021. Improving bio-physical and economic water productivity of menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.) through drip fertigation. Irrigation Science 39: 505–16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-021-00722-6

Boraiah B, Devakumar N, Shubha S and Palanna K B. 2017. Effect of panchagavya, jeevamrutha and cow urine on beneficial microorganisms and yield of capsicum (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum). International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 6(9): 3226–34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.609.397

Brichi L, Fernandes J V M, Silva B M, Vizu J D F, Junior J N G and Cherubin M R. 2023. Organic residues and their impact on soil health, crop production and sustainable agriculture: A review including bibliographic analysis. Soil Use and Management 39(2): 686–706. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12892

Dhayal D, Lal K, Khanna M, Sudhishri S, Brar A S, Sindhu V K, Singh M, Bhattacharyya R, Rajath E and Rosin K G. 2023. Performance of surface and sub-surface drip fertigated wheat–moongbean–maize cropping system under different irrigation schedules and nutrient doses. Agricultural Water Management 284: 108338. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108338

Giller K E, Delaune T, Silva J V, Descheemaeker K, van de Ven G, Schut A G, van Wijk M, Hammond J, Hochman Z and Taulya

G. 2021. The future of farming: Who will produce our food? Food Security 13(5): 1073–99. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-021-01184-6

Gomez K A and Gomez A A. 1984. Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research, 2nd edn, pp. 680. John Wiley and Sons, New York.

Government of India. 2023. SATAT/CBG Cost Calculator. https://satat.in/CGC/Calculator

Hazarika J, Pradhan S, Borthakur P K and Sharma S. 2023. INM: A key for soil health and sustainable agriculture. (In) Sustainable Management of Soil Health, pp. 40–52.

Pradhan S, Bharteey P K and Thokchom S (Eds). Bhumi Publishing, Kolhapur, Maharashtra.

Liu M, Liang F, Li Q, Wang G, Tian Y and Jia H. 2023. Enhancement growth, water use efficiency and economic benefit for maize by drip irrigation in northwest China. Scientific Reports 13(1): 8392. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-35611-9

Narayanamoorthy A. 2010. Can drip method of irrigation be used to achieve the macro-objectives of conservation agriculture? Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics 65(3): 428–38.

Palekar S. 2016. Zero Budget Spiritual Farming. http://www. palekarzerobudgetspiritualfarming.org/

Panday D, Bhusal N, Das S and Ghalehgolabbehbahani A. 2024. Rooted in nature: The rise, challenges, and potential of organic farming and fertilizers in agroecosystems. Sustainability 16(4): 1530. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041530

Pretty J, Benton T G, Bharucha Z P, Dicks L V, Flora C B, Godfray H C J, Goulson D, Hartley S, Lampkin N and Morris

C. 2018. Global assessment of agricultural system redesign for sustainable intensification. Nature Sustainability 1(8): 441–46. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-018-0114-0

Sairam A, Lal K, Sindhu V K, Khanna M, Sudishri S, Brahmanand P S, Shivay Y S, Parihar C M, Prasad S, Abraham G, Gaber A and Hossain A. 2025. Coupling sub-surface drip irrigation and integrated crop management in a maize–wheat rotation for increased food, water, and energy security in North-west India. Food and Energy Security 14: e70158. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.70158

Tinazzi I. 2024. ‘Water scarcity, migrations and climate change: An assessment of their nexus’. MSc Thesis, Università Ca' Foscari, Venice, Italy.

Toppo M, Sinha A K, Upadhay A K and Mahapatra P. 2023. Effect of long-term application of inorganic fertilisers, organic manure and lime on different forms of potassium in soil under maize–wheat cropping system. International Journal of Plant and Soil Science 35(22): 469–80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2023/v35i224155

Umair M, Hussain T, Jiang H, Ahmad A, Yao J, Qi Y, Zhang Y, Min L and Shen Y. 2019. Water-saving potential of subsurface drip irrigation for winter wheat. Sustainability 11(10): 2978. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102978

Yadav S S, Hegde V S, Habibi A B, Dia M and Verma S. 2019. Climate change, agriculture and food security. Food Security and Climate Change 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119180661.ch1