Productivity and profitability of wheat (Triticum aestivum)-based cropping systems under different nutrient-management practices

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi), summer and rainy (kharif) seasons of 2011–12 and 2012–13 at New Delhi, to evaluate the productivity, profitability and land-use efficiency of 4 wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.]-based cropping systems involving wheat, vegetable cowpea [Vigna sinensis (L.) Walp.], mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek], maize (Zea mays L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), and under 4 nutrients-management practices. System productivity of wheat-based cropping system in terms of wheatequivalent yield (WEY) was significantly the highest under wheat–fallow–maize–potato (14.12 t/ha and 15.02 t/ha), followed by wheat–vegetable cowpea–maize (11.54 t/ha and 12.78 t/ha) during both the years. The land-use efficiency was comparatively higher in wheat–vegetable cowpea–maize and wheat–mungbean–maize systems than to wheat–fallow–maize–potato and wheat–fallow–maize systems during both the years. Wheat–fallow– maize–potato system recorded the highest system production efficiency (37.86 and 41.16 kg WEY/ha/day), whereas wheat–vegetable cowpea–maize recorded highest system economic efficiency (339 and 416/ha/day). Wheat–vegetable cowpea–maize recorded maximum net returns (123.7 × 10³/ha and 151.7 × 10³/ha) during both the years. Application of 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) in wheat, vegetable cowpea, mungbean, maize and potato gave significantly highest yield, followed by 50% RDF + 50% RDN through FYM and 50% RDF + 25% RDN through FYM + biofertilizers during the first years. However, all these 3 treatments did not differ significantly during the second year. Highest wheat equivalent yield (WEY) was achieved with the application of 100% RDF followed by 50% RDF + 50% RDN through FYM and 50% RDF + 25% RDN through FYM + biofertilizers during the first years. However, all these three treatments did not differ significantly during the second year. Substitution of either 50% or 25% RDN through FYM and biofertilizers significantly increased the available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content at the harvest of different crops over control as well as 100% RDF alone.