Evaluation of different integrated farming systems under irrigated situations of Maharashtra

Three farming system models were evaluated during 2008–09 and 2009–10 at Rahuri, Maharashtra, to study their effect on the economic returns, water productivity, employment generation, energy balance and soil health improvement. On-station integrated farming system (IFS), model-I, involving field crops, horticulture, dairy, poultry and fishery was developed at the research farm. Similarly, an on-farm IFS model involving crop, dairy, poultry was developed in Digraj village of Ahmednagar district (model-II). An on-station cropping sequence model involving soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]–wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.] was taken for comparison (model-III). These models were developed in 2.0 ha area under irrigated condition. On-station and on-farm IFS models were found more remunerative than the on-station cropping sequence model, showing maximum net returns of 1,99,848, water productivity (991/ha-cm), employment generation (1,275 mandays/ha/year) and energy balance (4,11,949 MJ/ha), while the on-farm IFS model resulted 48,477, 406/ha-cm, 657 man-days/year and 3,25,528 MJ/ha values of these parameters respectively. These values for the Model-III were the minimum with 32,613, 375/ha-cm, 227 man-days and 1,53,379 MJ respectively. Thus, integrated farming system (IFS) proved promising and remunerative to soybean–wheat cropping system with higher net returns, water productivity, employment generation and energy output.