EVALUATION OF MAIZE BASED VEGETABLE CROP SEQUENCES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON SOIL FERTILITY UNDER MID HILL CONDITIONS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2013
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishavavidyalaya, Palampur
Abstract
Eight cropping sequences viz. maize – wheat, maize (green cob) + frenchbean (pole type)
– pea – summer squash, maize + soybean – garlic, maize (green cob) – broccoli – potato, maize
(green cob) + asparagus bean – radish – onion, maize (green cob) + mash – cauliflower –
frenchbean, maize (green cob) + ricebean – cauliflower – buckwheat, maize (green cob) +
asparagus bean – broccoli – radish were evaluated for their production potential, economic
feasibility, energy production and effects on soil fertility conditions under mid hill conditions of
Himachal Pradesh. Study of one year of crop cycle revealed that maize (green cob) + frenchbean
(pole type) – pea – summer squash and maize (green cob) + asparagus bean – radish – onion
sequences resulted in significantly higher maize equivalent yield (34,989 and 36,897 kg ha-1),
production efficiency (119.4 and 112.5 kg ha-1 day-1), net returns (₹ 223568.6 and ₹ 225468.9
ha-1) and B: C ratio (1.5 and 1.5) than other crop sequences. Maize - wheat sequence was superior
over all crop sequences in terms of carbohydrate yield, protein yield and energy equivalents
(3,556.7, 590.5 and 73065.0, respectively), energy output (2,40,289 MJ ha-1), energy output: input
ratio (9.4) and energy productivity (1.41). Maize – wheat sequence resulted in highest nitrogen
uptake; maize (green cob) + frenchbean (pole type) – pea – summer squash resulted in highest
phosphorus uptake and maize (green cob) – broccoli – potato sequence resulted in highest
potassium uptake. Build up of N, P and K was recorded in most of the crop sequences and
especially those which involved legume as one of its component crop, while nutrient mining (N,
P and K) was recorded after completion of all crop sequences. Maize – broccoli – potato resulted
in higher cost of cultivation and energy input than other crop sequences due to the labour
intensive nature of potato crop.
Description
M.Sc. Thesis
Keywords
Maize, Vegetable crops