Comparative productivity of soybean (Glycine max)-based cropping sequences

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted during 1995-97 at Rahuri to study the comparative productivity and economics
of soybean [Glycine ,max (L.) Merr]-based cropping sequences under irrigated conditions. The treatments consisted of 6 crop sequences, viz soybean followed by wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.), safflower (Carthanws tinctorius L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czemj & Cosson) and kharif groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) - wheat with optimum irrigation at critical growth stages and
suboptimum irrigation by elimination of one irrigation from critical growth stages. The results revealed that the total
grain equivalent yield of soybean-chickpea (6.59 tonnes/ha) was significantly higher than the rest of sequences and
lowest was in groundnut-wheat (4.16 tonnes/ha). Optimum level of irrigation recorded maximum grain equivalent
yield than suboptimum. The total consumptive use was maximum in soybean-wheat (55 cm) while water-use efficiency was higher in soybean-chickpea (153 kg/ha-cm). The total consumptive lise and water-use efficiency was 24% higher and 20% lower respectively, in optimum compared with the suboptimum irrigation. The.soybean-chickpea sequence
gave significantly higher gross (Rs 59 274/ha) and net returns (Rs 46 530/ha) than rest of sequences followed by
soybean wheat sequence.