Production potential, sustainability and energetics of groundnut based intercropping systems in Upper Krishna Project command area of Karnataka

Abstract

The field experiment conducted to evaluate the productivity and energetics of groundnut based intercropping systems during rabi/summer in UKP (Upper Krishna Project) command area of Karnataka revealed higher groundnut equivalent yield (GEY, 2.40 and 2.41 t/ha, respectively), monetary returns (Gross returns ` 84045 and ` 84180, net returns ` 64522 and ` 64220, and B:C ratio of 3.29 and 3.21, respectively) and energy output (12.61 x 106 and 12.82 x 106 K cal/ha, respectively) with groundnut + sesame in 4:2 and 5:1 row proportions followed by groundnut + maize in 4:2 row ratio (2.19 t/ha GEY, ` 76531 gross returns, ` 55981 net returns, 2.73 B:C ratio, and 16.15 x 106 K cal/ha energy output). Groundnut + sunflower was not advantageous over sole groundnut (2.01 and 1.99 t/ha yield equivalent, ` 68786 gross returns, ` 49058 net returns, 2.49 B:C ratio, and 11.14 x 106 K cal/ha energy yield). While, sole crops of maize, sunflower and sesame were poor in their productivity in comparison to groundnut. Thus, on-farm groundnut crop diversification through intercropping was advantageous during rabi/summer in UKP command area of Karnataka.