Enhancing food, fodder, and financial security through castor-based nutri-millets intercropping system in the Indian semi-arid tropics

ENHANCING FOOD, FODDER AND FINANCIAL SECURITY THROUGH CASTOR-BASED INTERCROPPING


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Authors

  • R MOHAN KUMAR University of Agricultural Science, Bengaluru-560 065, Karnataka
  • YAMANURA University of Agricultural Science, Bengaluru-560 065, Karnataka
  • G SURESH ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500 030, Telangana
  • B N MAHANTESH University of Agricultural Science, Bengaluru-560 065, Karnataka

https://doi.org/10.56739/15q9wp51

Keywords:

Castor, Economics, Fodder, Millets, Productivity, Yield Advantage

Abstract

Intercropping is a proven crop diversification practice that enhances productivity, profitability, and resilience in fragile agroecosystems. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to identify the most productive, profitable, and sustainable castor-based intercropping system. In the study, four popular millets (finger millet, foxtail millet, kodo millet, and browntop millet) interseeded with castor in two different row proportions (2:4 and 4:4). The results revealed that all the crops produced significantly higher yields under sole cropping than under intercropping. Among the intercropping systems, castor+finger millet (2:4) showed 7.11-63.19% yield advantage at an enhanced land-use efficiency of 13% over sole castor and finger millet. In all the intercropping systems, castor dominated the nutri-millets. Despite its dominance, all the castor-based nutri-millet intercropping systems were found to be beneficial by registering a positive competition index (0.12-0.58), while it was highest with castor+finger millet (2:4). Further, castor+finger millet (2:4) emerged as the most profitable intercropping system by registering significantly higher gross returns (` 92839/ha), net returns (` 66426/ha), value of the combined intercrop (92,655), monitory advantage index (10,464), replacement value of the intercrop (1.88), and relative net return index (1.15). Intercropping of millets imparted fodder production potential to the castor-based cropping system, with castor + finger millet (2:4) being significantly superior over the rest of the intercropping systems. Consequently, castor+finger millet (2:4) evolved as a productive, profitable, and efficient cropping system in rainfed alfisols.

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Published

2025-07-14

Issue

Vol. 42 No. 2 (2025): Journal of Oilseeds Research

Section

Articles

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How to Cite

R MOHAN KUMAR, YAMANURA, G SURESH, & B N MAHANTESH. (2025). Enhancing food, fodder, and financial security through castor-based nutri-millets intercropping system in the Indian semi-arid tropics: ENHANCING FOOD, FODDER AND FINANCIAL SECURITY THROUGH CASTOR-BASED INTERCROPPING. Journal of Oilseeds Research, 42(2), 181-188. https://doi.org/10.56739/15q9wp51