SIMULTANEOUS AND DIFFERENT METHODS OF SEQUENTIAL PLANTINGS OF WHEAT (TRTTICUM AESTIVUM L.) AND SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM SPP. HYBRID) ON PRODUCTIVITY OF WHEAT-SUGARCANE CROPPING SYSTEM

摘要

An experiment was conducted during the year 2001 -2002 at the Research Farm of Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Regional Centre, Karnal (Haryana) to study the effect of simultaneous and sequential plantings of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) on productivity and economics of wheat-sugarcane cropping system. Results showed that instead of late planting of sugarcane after wheat harvest (end April/early May) simultaneous planting of wheat and sugarcane in winter season would be advantageous in terms of productivity and net returns. Simultaneous planting produced 28.4% more cane yield than late planted sugarcane after wheat following conventional method of field preparation before planting. Net return obtained under former system was Rs.33,800 ha~(-1) (wheat + plant cane + ratoon cane) higher than the obtained in the latter system. The benefit: cost ratio for corresponding treatments were 0.90 and 0.56 respectively. Simultaneous planting not only saved energy input of 2.92 × 10~6 Kcal ha~(-1) as compared to sequential planting with conventional method of field preparation before planting sugarcane but also gave higher energy output as well as energy balance than all the sequential plantings. Direct planting of sugarcane by cutter planter in dry field after wheat harvest followed by irrigation gave lower cane yield and benefit: cost ratio than other two methods.