Diversification and intensification of maize (Zea mays)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system for sustainable productivity and profitability

A field experiment was carried out on farmers’ fields in 2 tehsils, namely Salumber and Sarada of Udaipur district situated in Humid Southern Plain Zone of Rajasthan (IVb) from rainy season (kharif) 2007 to summer 2011, to study diversification and intensification of maize (Zea mays L.)–wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.] cropping system for sustainable productivity and profitability. The experiment, consisting of 5 cropping systems, viz. maize–wheat, maize–wheat–greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek], maize + blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] (2:2)–wheat–okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench], clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taubert]–wheat–greengram and clusterbean–wheat–okra, was laid out in randomized block design considering every farmer (12) as replication. Maize + blackgram (2:2)–wheat–okra cropping system recorded the highest maize–grain-equivalent yield (26.13 t/ha), gross returns (263.2 × 10³/ha), net returns (205.8 × 10³/ha), land-use efficiency (88.2%), production efficiency (81.1 kg/ha/day), sustainable yield index (0.57), sustainable value index (0.46), relative productivity efficiency (202.8%), relative economic efficiency (205.0%) and total calorific value (117.3 × 10³ MJ/ha). However, benefit: cost ratio (5.10:1) and monetary efficiency (647.2/ha/day) were the highest in clusterbean–wheat–okra. Maize + blackgram (2:2)–wheat–okra recorded the highest total input energy (52.7 × 10³ MJ/ha), while maize–wheat–greengram cropping system produced the highest output energy (301.8 × 10³ MJ/ha). On the other hand, the maximum values of energy-use efficiency (7.52), energy-output efficiency (1150.2 MJ/ha/day), energy intensiveness (9.49 MJ/) and specific energy (4.13 MJ/kg) were found in maize–wheat cropping system, while energy productivity in clusterbean–wheat–okra cropping system (581.9 g/MJ).