Identification of profitable intercrops in summer sugarcane in NTZ

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted for three years 2013-2015 in sugarcane variety CO-86032 planted at wider spacing with six different intercrops –Coriander (leaf), Tomato, Bhendi, Chilly, Gum guar and coriander (seed) at Regional Sugarcane and Rice Research Station- Rudrur, Nizamabad, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University with a objective to identify profitable intercrops in sugarcane planted in the months of Jan or Feb in comparison to sole sugarcane. Higher number of millable cane was from Sole Sugarcane (78.8 x 103 ha-1). The number of millable cane in all intercrops was on par with that of Sole Sugarcane except Sugarcane + Chilly intercropping system. Among the intercrops highest number of millable cane was recorded from Sugarcane + Coriander seed (74.3 x 103 ha-1) followed by Sugarcane + Gumguar (73.4 x 103ha-1). Maximum cane yield was obtained from Sole Sugarcane (75.7 t/ha-1) but cane yield from Sugarcane + Coriander (Seed) and Sugarcane + Gumguar and sugarcane+coriander (leaf) (67.5 t/ha-1, 67.3 t/ha-1and 66.7 t/ha-1) respectively was statistically superior over other intercropping systems and on par with Sole Sugarcane. Maximum equivalent cane yield was recorded in Sugarcane + Bhendi and Sugarcane + Gumguar intercropping combinations (96.7 t/ha-1 & 96.5 t/ha-1 respectively). But due to lower cost of production in gum guar intercropping, recorded highest net returns of (Rs 1, 11, 411 ha-1) with B:C ratio of 0.92 followed by Sugarcane + Coriander (leaf) with net returns and BC ratio of Rs 107, 881 ha-1 and 0.91 respectively.