Productivity, profitability and land-use efficiency of soybean (Glycine max)-based cropping systems under different nutrient-management practices

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif), winter (rabi) and summer seasons of 2011–12 and 2012–13 at New Delhi, to evaluate the productivity, profitability and land-use efficiency of 4 soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]-based cropping systems involving wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.], chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] and fodder sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Monech], under 5 nutrient-management practices. System productivity of soybean-based cropping system in terms of soybean-equivalent yield (SEY) was significantly higher under soybean–chickpea–fodder sorghum (7.44 t/ha) during 2011–12 and under soybean–potato–mungbean system (8.99 t/ha) during 2012–13. Land-use efficiency (LUE) was higher in soybean–chickpea–sorghum (F) and soybean–wheat–mungbean systems than soybean–wheat–fallow and soybean–potato–mungbean systems during both the years. Soybean–chickpea–sorghum (F) and soybean–potato–mungbean systems recorded the highest production efficiency (PE) based on SEY (22.8 and 31.4 kg SEY/ha/day) and monetary terms ( 255 and 363/ha/day) during 2011–12 and 2012–13 respectively. Application of 25% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) + 50% RDN through FYM + biofertlizers in soybean gave significantly highest seed yield during both the years. Application of 100% RDF resulted in the highest wheat yield and potato tuber yield during both the years. Highest yield of chickpea, mungbean and sorghum fodder were obtained with 50% RDF + 50% RDN through FYM during both the years. The highest SEY (6.73 t/ha and 6.84 t/ha) was achieved with of 50% RDF + 50% RDN, through FYM during both the years.