Production and profitability of diversified intensive cropping system suitable for north western zone of Tamil Nadu

Cropping system is an essential component of a farming system. Farmers use a variety of cropping systems based on their expertise, scientific validation is essential before recommending a certain cropping system for a specific area. The purpose of the study was to determine the yield and profitability of a diversified intensive cropping system with nutrient management strategies that are more productive and profitable than existing ones for Tamil Nadu’s North Western Zone.

With four replications, the experiment was set up in a strip plot style. Five treatments were used, one of which included intensive diversified cropping systems viz., C₁: Groundnut-chillies-greengram, C₂: Groundnut + redgram (6:1)-sorghum-blackgram, C₃: Maize + fodder cowpea (1:1) -sunflower-greengram, C₄ Bhendi + coriander (1:1) -tomato-blackgram, C₅: Brinjal + onion (1:2)- cowpea-sunnhemp were taken in main-plots and five nutrient management practices treatments were imposed in sub-plots, including farm yard manure at 12.5 t/ha and vermicompost at 2.5, 5 and 7.5 t/ha, as well as fertilisers at variable levels of 100, 75 and 50 per cent were imposed in sub-plots.

Higher total system groundnut equivalent yield was recorded in Bhendi + coriander (1:1) -tomato -blackgram cropping system with respect to nutrient management it was recorded higher in farmyard manure @ 12.5 t/ha along with application of 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer. Higher B:C ratio and net return was recorded in Bhendi + coriander (1:1) -tomato -blackgram cropping system in terms of nutrient management it was recorded higher in farmyard manure @ 12.5 t/ha along with application of 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer.