Production potential and energy dynamics of efficient cropping systems under diverse nutrient management practices

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the production potential, their energetics and economics of efficient cropping systems under different nutrient management practices during 2011–12 and 2012–13. The treatments consisted of 3 cropping systems [groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)-onion (Allium cepa L.), groundnut-wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.] and groundnut-chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)] with 4 nutrient management treatments, viz. recommended dose of fertilizer, fertilizer dose as per soil test, fertilizer dose as per soil test crop response (STCR) equations and control as main-plot treatments, whereas 3 fertilizer levels, viz. RDF, 75% RDF and 50% RDF as sub-plots treatments. Among the cropping systems, groundnut-onion cropping system recorded significantly maximum groundnut equivalent yield (7.82 t/ha), production efficiency (35.1 kg/ha/day) and economic efficiency (842.4/ha/day) than rest of the cropping systems. However, groundnut-chickpea (0.82 t/ha) recorded significantly higher protein than groundnut-wheat but at par with groundnut-onion, while carbohydrates (5.41 t/ha) and fats (0.81 t/ha) were registered higher with groundnut-onion cropping system. Application of fertilizer as per STCR equation to preceding groundnut registered significantly higher protein (0.95 t/ha), carbohydrate (4.20 t/ha) and fat (0.88 t/ha) than control treatments. Similarly, groundnut-onion cropping system obtained significantly maximum net monetary returns (188.1×10³/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.98), but groundnut-chickpea cropping system registered significantly higher energy output-input ratio (9.54), energy balance/unit input (8.85) and energy intensiveness (2.59 MJ/

) on pooled mean. At the end of the 2 years cropping cycles, groundnut-onion cropping system found to be most efficient and suitable for obtaining the maximum productivity and monetary returns with application of fertilizer as per STCR equation.