Production potential and profitability of autumn sugarcane-based intercropping systems as influenced by intercrops and row spacing

A field experiment was conducted during 2000–2002 at Pantnagar, Uttaranchal, to study the feasibility of various intercrops with autumn sugarcane. Treatments comprising 12 combinations, 6 cropping systems, viz. sole sugarcane, sugarcane + lentil/mustard/maize/rajmash/rapeseed, as intercrop and 2 row spacings for sugarcane planting, viz. 75 cm, and 90 cm were tested in randomized block design. All the intercrops except maize, reduced cane yield attributed to decline in number of millable canes. Mean reduction in cane yield was 8.7% with lentil, 14.8% with mustard, 13.3% with rajmash and 8.7% with rapeseed. Sugarcane planted at 90 cm spacing produced 9.5% higher cane yield than that at 75 cm. Sugarcane + maize gave the highest mean cane-equiva-lent yield (200.6 tonnes/ha) being 52.5, 45.4, 55.7, 50.0 and 48.6% higher than sole sugarcane and its intercropping with lentil, mustard, rajmash and rapeseed, respectively. Sugarcane intercropped with maize gave highest net return of Rs 124,874/ha followed by sugarcane alone (Rs 71,145) as against Rs 62,104; 65,067; 67,138 and 69,040 with intercropping of mustard, rajmash, rapeseed and lentil respectively. Row spacing for sugarcane of 90 cm gave higher cane equivalent yield and monetary return over 75 cm. [lentil: Lens culinaris Medikus; mustard: Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson; maize; Zea mays L.; rajmash: Phaseolus radiatus L.; rapeseed: Brassica napus]