Energetics and economic comparisons of in-situ moisture conservation practices in maize-blackgram cropping system in dryland ecosystem

A field study was conducted at Dryland Farming Research Station, Arjia, Bhilwara (Rajasthan) during the kharif seasons of 2007 and 2008, to assess crop productivity, energetics and economics of in-situ moisture conservation practices in maizeblackgram based cropping system under dryland ecosystem. Among the different cropping systems, strip cropping of maize-blackgram (4: 8) was most effective in improving energetic and economics of maize equivalent yield by 98.4% over control (maize + blackgram intercropping 2: 2 ratio). Ridging after first intercultural operation (RAFIO) reduced the runoff by 25% in 2007 and 28% in 2008 over deep tillage and 44 to 45% over shallow tillage in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The RAFIO decreased the runoff by 25 to 28% over deep tillage and 44 to 45% over shallow tillage during respective years. Similarly, the deep tillage decreased the runoff by 52 and 51% in paired intercropping and strip cropping, respectively over shallow tillage. RAFIO increased mean maize grain equivalent yield by 27 to 41% over deep tillage and by 36 to 48% over shallow tillage in strip cropping and paired intercropping, respectively. Similarly, mean net returns in RAFIO increased by 39 to 106% over deep tillage and by 68 to 157% over shallow tillage, respectively. In deep tillage, yield increased by 40 and 39% under strip cropping and inter cropping system, respectively. In maize, fertilizer accounted higher share of energy input (43.02–76.69%) followed by tillage (4.15–32.60%) under different in-situ moisture conservation practices under maize-blackgram cropping system.