Productivity and Economics of Fodder Crops-Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Double Cropping System as Influenced by Varieties and Fertilizer Levels in Chickpea under Alfisols of Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka

A field experiment was carried out for 3 years at AICRP for dryland Agriculture, Bengaluru to study the performance of different fodder crops (fodder maize, sweet sorghum and giant bajra) followed by its residual effect on succeeding chickpea crop (Cicer arietinum L.) with two varieties (JG-11 and Annigeri-1) and two fertilizer level (75% RDF and 100% RDF) under double cropping system during 2013 to 2015. Results showed that among fodder crops, giant bajra recorded significantly higher green fodder yield (43067, 32250 and 52059 kg ha⁻¹, during 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively) and significantly higher chickpea yield was recorded under preceding crop of giant bajra (1067, 945 and 584 kg ha⁻¹, respectively). Giant bajra recorded significantly higher main crop (fodder) equivalent yield (69386, 55560 and 75427 kg ha⁻¹, respectively). Higher system gross returns ( 104084, 86163 and 113129 ha⁻¹, respectively), net returns ( 64168, 41973 and 67539 ha⁻¹, respectively) and B: C ratio (2.61, 1.97 and 2.48, respectively) was recorded under giant bajra followed by chickpea double cropping system during 2013, 2014 and 2015. Among chickpea varieties, significantly higher main crop equivalent yield was recorded with JG-11 (62994, 53660 and 67230 kg ha⁻¹, respectively) compared to Annigeri-1. Application of 100% recommended dose of fertilizer recorded higher fodder crop equivalent yield (23532, 26520 and 67483 kg ha⁻¹, respectively) and higher system gross returns (35303, 32720 and 33720 ha⁻¹, respectively), net return ( 13519, 6857 and 8427 ha⁻¹, respectively) and B: C ratio (1.63, 1.27 and 1.33, respectively) compared to 75% recommended dose of fertilizer during all these years. Among fodder crops, higher water use efficiency was recorded in giant bajra (1.84 kg ha-mm⁻¹) with chickpea variety JG-11 (2.73 kg ha-mm⁻¹) at 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (1.77 kg ha-mm⁻¹). Higher sustainable yield index was recorded with giant bajra (0.189), JG-11 (0.64) and 100% RDF (1.017).