Effect of different intercrops on growth, productivity and profitability of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) under drip fertigation

Abstract

An experiment on sugarcane was conducted at Research cum Instructional farm, IGKV, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India during rabi season of 2017-18 to assess the effect of different intercrops on growth, yield and economics of sugarcane. Eleven treatments of different intercrops consisted of onion, potato, sweet corn, wheat, chickpea and gobhi sarso sown at different ratio as first intercrops and sesame, groundnut were sown at 1:1 ratio as second intercrops and one treatment of sole sugarcane were allocated randomly in simple randomized block design and replicated thrice. Results revealed that maximum millable cane yield was recorded under intercropping of Sugarcane + onion (1:3). Significantly higher intercrops yield, equivalent cane yield were recorded with sugarcane + sweet corn (1:2) and (1:3) and with sugarcane + onion (1:3). Second intercrops sesame and groundnut did not success. Maximum net returns was recorded with sugarcane + sweet corn (1:3) whereas, significantly higher benefit per rupee invested was recorded with sugarcane + sweet corn (1:2) and with sugarcane + onion (1:3).