Current Advances in Agricultural Sciences(An International Journal)

A field experiment was carried out for two consecutive winter (rabi) seasons of 2006–07 and 2007–08 at Kanpur to assess the production potential, economic viability and energy efficiency of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) intercropped with winter maize (Zea mays L.) and rajmash bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for central plain zone of Uttar Pradesh. Values of land equivalent ratio (LER) and area-time equivalent ratio (ATER) with all the intercropping systems were greater indicating advantage in yield, land-use efficiency and monetary return unit⁻¹ time and space over the respective monocultures. Potato (45 x 20 cm) + winter maize (cob purpose) (3:2) was proved to be the most efficient, productive and remunerative cropping system as it gave the highest mean potato equivalent yield (34.55 t ha⁻¹) and also accounted for highest values for LER (1.67), ATER (1.65), production efficiency (317 kg ha⁻¹ day⁻¹), monetary advantage index (41584), and monetary efficiency ( 574 ha⁻¹ day⁻¹) compared to other intercropping systems. Potato (45 x 20 cm) + winter maize (cob purpose) registered higher energy output (335.82 x 10³ MJ ha⁻¹) over other cropping systems. The energy produced by this system was 19.5, 40.4 and 48.3% higher than potato (60 x 15 cm) + winter maize (cob purpose), potato (45 x 20 cm) + winter maize (grain purpose) and potato (60 x 15 cm) + winter maize (grain purpose), respectively. Higher net return of 62.6 x 10³ ha⁻¹, benefit: cost ratio of 2.52 and energy output efficiency of 3081 MJ ha⁻¹ day⁻¹ were obtained with potato (45 x 20 cm) + winter maize (cob purpose), followed by potato (60 x 15 cm) + winter maize (cob purpose) intercropping system with corresponding values of 58.32 x 10³ ha⁻¹, 2.46 and 2577 MJ ha⁻¹ day⁻¹, respectively