Contingent crop planning for delayed onset of monsoon in scarce rainfall zone of Andhra Pradesh

A Field experiment was conducted during kharif, 2015 with twelve different crops (T1-Groundnut, T2-Castor, T3-Foxtail millet, T4-Pigeonpea, T5-Greengram, T6-Horsegram, T7-Clusterbean, T8-Fieldbean, T9-Cowpea, T10-Bajra, T11-Jowar, T12-Littlemillet) under delayed sowing conditions at Agricultural research Station, Kadiri. All the twelve crops were sown under two different dates of sowing, i.e., during September 1^st FN and September 2^nd FN. Among the twelve crops evaluated for September sowings, groundnut resulted in negative returns. Highest groundnut pod equivalent yield was recorded with clusterbean for vegetable purpose in both the dates of sowing in September followed by foxtailmillet, littlemillet, horsegram and pearlmillet. While, considering the cost of cultivation, highest net returns were recorded with clusterbean (Rs. 26, 537 and Rs. 29, 691/ha) followed by foxtailmillet (Rs. 14, 887and Rs.9, 899/ha) and littlemillet (Rs. 12, 893 and Rs.7, 712/ha).