Bt cotton based cropping systems suitable for Central Vidarbha zone of Maharashtra

Abstract

Field investigation was undertaken on vertisol of Vidarbha region at Research Farm of Agriculture Research Station, Yavatmal under Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola to evaluate profitable cropping system under optimal resource utilization in Central Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Experiment was undertaken during consecutive seasons of Kharif–Rabi-Summer 2020-21 to 2022-2023 with six different cropping systems. The pooled results revealed that, mid late duration kharif cotton (PDKV JKAL-116) ̶ summer groundnut (TAG-24) cropping sequence noted significantly the highest cotton equivalent yield (4301 kg ha-1) with highest GMR (Rs. 248206 ha-1), NMR (Rs. 167117 ha-1) and B:C ratio of 3.06. Whereas, early duration kharif cotton (Ajit-5) ̶ chickpea cropping sequence (C3) noted the highest system profitability of Rs. 476 kg/day/ha, which was closely followed by cropping system C6 i.e. mid late duration kharif cotton ̶ summer groundnut sequence (Rs. 474 kg/day/ha).