Economics of green pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivation under drip fertigation

A field experiment was carried out at the Instructional Farm of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, India during Rabi season of November 2013, February 2014 with an aim to study the economic viability of green peas grown under different irrigation and fertigation levels. The experiment was planned in a split plot design with sixteen treatment combinations viz., four levels of irrigation (I₁: 100% ETc, I₂: 85% ETc, I₃: 70% ETc, I₄: 55% ETc) and four levels of fertigation (F₁: 125% of RDF, F₂: 100% of RDF, F₃: 75% of RDF, F₄: 50% of RDF) along with three replications. Economical viability of drip fertigation was evaluated by computing Benefit-Cost ratio (B/C ratio) obtained by dividing gross returns by total seasonal cost. The economic analysis included cost towards drip irrigation system and fertilizer requirement of green peas. The seasonal cost towards green peas cultivation under was estimated considering the components cost of the system, its depreciation cost, the cost of cultivation of growing green pea included cost towards fertilizers, insecticide, labors etc. The results showed maximum cost of production (672998.56 Rs/ha) in treatment combination I₁F¹ i.e. (100% ETc and 125% RDF). The gross monetary returns was maximum (95475 Rs/ha) for the treatment combination I₃F₃ i.e. (70% ETc and 75% RDF), whereas minimum gross monetary returns (28350 Rs/ha) was obtained for the treatment combination I₁F₁ (100% ETc and 125% RDF). The maximum net income (44422.85 Rs/ha) for green pea in saline soil was observed for the treatment combination I₃F³ (70% ETc and 75% RDF). The B: C ratio (1.87) was observed to be highest in treatment combination I₃F³ (70% ETc and 75% RDF) and the minimum value of B, C ratio (0.42) was observed in the treatment combination I₁F₁ (100% ETc and 125% RD). The experimental study reveals that green peas irrigated at 70% of ETc and application of 75% of RDF under drip in saline soil gives higher net returns and benefits.