Techno economic feasibility of soybean based cropping systems under varying climates in Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

Building resilience to climate change through on farm management techniques such as crop diversification, and water management as supplemental irrigation is vital for sustainable agriculture. In the present study, soybean (Glycine Max L.) based cropping systems (sole crop, and intercropped with cotton or pigeon pea) through different combinations of cultivation practices (flatbed, raised bed) and irrigation levels (Rainfed, 66%ETc, 100%ETc and methods (drip, sprinkler) were studied in randomized block design with three replications during kharif season of 2019-20 and 2020-21. Plant growth parameters viz. plant height and dry weight were recorded maximum in rainfed soybean as sole crop, while the number of branches/plant were recorded maximum in sole soybean crop irrigated at 100%ETc. Grain yield (5.37 t ha-1), and water productivity (0.47 kg m-3) were maximum in soybean intercropped with cotton. Overall, cotton+soybean irrigated at 66% ETc can be adopted by farmers to achieve optimal productivity without significant yield penalty.

Keywords

• Climate change
• Crop evapotranspiration
• Irrigation
• Rainfed agriculture
• Soybean