Evaluation and Identification of Rabi Castor Based Profitable Cropping Systems on Alfisols in Southern Telangana

Aim: The experiment was aimed at identifying the rabi castor based profitable cropping systems for Alfisols of Southern Telangana Zone.

Study design: Split plot design with three replications

Place and duration of study: Regional Agricultural Research Station, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Palem, Telangana state, India during rabi season of 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Methodology: The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with five preceding crops (mung bean, fodder jowar, corn, pearlmillet and sesame) in main plots and four nitrogen levels of rabi castor in sub plots (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha-1). The growth parameters, yield attributes, seed yield, water use efficiency and economics were studied.

Results: The results showed that among different proceeding crops evaluated that significantly higher castor seed yield and castor equivalent yield were obtained when rabi castor was preceded by corn (1973 and 2931 and kg ha-1) and mung bean (1868 and 2696 kg ha-1) as compared to that of sesame (1672 and 2207 kg ha-1), pearl millet (1823 and 2199 kg ha-1) and fodder jowar (1783 and 2154 kg ha-1). However, higher total system gross returns (Rs. 1,04,118 ha-1) and net returns (Rs. 52,462 ha-1) were accrued when rabi castor was grown after corn only, but, a higher B:C ratio was realized due to mung bean as a preceding crop (2.12). Though castor during rabi season responded similarly to 80 and 120 kg N ha-1 in terms of castor seed yield (2275 and 2381 kg ha-1) and castor equivalent yield (2887 and 3013 kg ha-1), application of 120 kg N ha-1to castor resulted in accruing of higher system net returns (Rs. 60,638 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.27). However, the results of interaction further showed that rabi castor preceded by mung bean with the application of 80 kg N ha-1 was found profitable (Rs. 75,573 ha-1). It was closely followed by corn-castor system (Rs. 73,289 ha-1).