Performance of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)-cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) cropping system under various salinity levels in black clay soils of Saurashtra, Gujarat

Abstract

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is not only the source of oil and protein but also plays an important role in fixation of atmospheric nitrogen to improve soil fertility. It is very important crop in many of the developing countries, particularly in India where the nitrogen rich crop residues are also used as fodder. It is more sensitive to salinity than cereals. Yet, it is often grown on marginal lands like salinity affected areas. Due to continuous use of saline ground water for irrigation, soil salinization has seriously affected the productivity of 6.73 million hectares of land in the country (AICRP, 2009). Generally, farmers in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat are taking single crop of groundnut and summer/winter season are being kept fallow due to nonavailability of good quality water for irrigation. By using saline water to raise two crops in a year, the total production and productivity of the crop can be increased with efficient utilization of available rainfall. Keeping these points in view, the groundnut crop in kharif with supplemental irrigation saline water and cowpea crop in summer using saline water irrigation was assessed to maximize the production and productivity with minimum deterioration of the soil.