Page 71 - BJS vol. 35

Productivity and Profitability of Onion Seed Crop-Mungbean ......... Sugarcane 63

sugarcane on 18 March 2009 and 10 March 2010 in 2008-09 and 2009-10 cropping
seasons, respectively. Sole crop of all first and second intercrops were sown in one side
of the main field on the same days as of intercrops. For sugarcane and intercrops,
fertilizers were applied following the recommended rates (BARC, 2005). N, P, K, S and
-1
Zn were applied in sugarcane @ 150, 50, 90, 34 and 3.5 kg ha , respectively while N, P,
-1
K, S, Zn and B were applied @ 75, 30, 75, 30, 3 and 0.6 kg ha for onion. Only N, P and
-1
K were applied in mungbean @ 15, 18 and 14 kg ha , respectively. Sole crops received
100% of the recommended doses of fertilizers while 60 % of the recommended rate was
applied in intercrops. N, P, K, S, Zn and B were applied in the form of Urea, triple super
phosphate (TSP), muriate of potash (MoP), Gypsum, Zinc sulphate (ZnSO 4 ) and Boric
acid, respectively. Pest management and necessary intercultural operations like weeding
(3 times), mulching (3 times), gap filling (1 time), irrigation (4 times), earthing up (2 times),
tying (1 time) etc. were done according to the recommendation. Data on number of tiller,
-1
number of millable cane, plant height, diameter of cane, number of internodes stalk , unit
-2
stalk weight, cane dry matter m and cane yield were recorded. The plant height, weight
of 1000 grain/seeds, grain/seeds yield, straw yield and days to maturity were recorded for
intercrops. The plant height and bulb yield were recorded for onion. Brix (%), pol (%)
cane, purity (%), recoverable sucrose (%) and sugar yield were also recorded. pH value,
organic matter content, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium,
available sulphur and available zinc content of post-harvest soil were measured. Cane
equivalent yield of intercrops and the adjusted cane yield were calculated. Total
production cost, gross income, net return, benefit cost ratio and land equivalent ratio were
calculated for economic analysis.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Growth parameters of sugarcane
-1
Cane height, cane diameter and number of internode cane did not differ
significantly by different row spacing of onion seed crop in onion seed crop - mungbeann
sequential intercropping under paired rows system of planting in 2008-09 and 2009-10
cropping seasons. The total biomass of sugarcane significantly differed due to these
treatment combinations in both the seasons. The highest cane biomass yield of 3080 g
-2
m was observed with T 2 (PRC + onion - BINA Mung 5) and the lowest cane biomass
-2
yield of 2410 g m was found with T 1 (Paired rows cane only) treatments in 2008-09
-2
season. In 2009-10, the highest cane biomass yield (3100 g m ) was recorded with
T 7 (PRC + 20 cm row spacing of onion seed crop - BINA Mung 5) and the lowest (2510 g
-2
m ) was found with T 1 (Paired rows cane only) treatment (Table 1).