Production potential of arid legumes under grass based strip cropping system in arid rainfed condition of western Rajasthan.

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the research farm of Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Regional Research Station, Bikaner during Kharif 2005 to study effect of grass based strip-cropping system on production potential of arid legumes (Mothbean and clusterbean), their ability to check soil erosion and fertility improvement under rainfed condition of western Rajasthan. The results indicated that grain and straw yield of clusterbean and Mothbean was more in strip cropping with grass over their sole cropping Highest clusterbean equivalent yield (CEY) was recorded with grass + clusterbean (5:15m) strip cropping system. Both the crops have shown same productivity in terms of land equivalent ratio under strip cropping with grass. Soil loss/gain under each production systems revealed that maximum soil loss occurred in arable cropping system. Strip cropping of legumes with grasses reduced the soil loss in comparison to their sole cropping. Strip cropping of arid legumes with grass showed highest available nitrogen over sole pasture as well as sole cropping of legumes.