On-Farm Crop Productivity and Economic Assessment of Mungbean-Sorghum Intercropping System Under Integrated Nutrient Management

Abstract

Purpose: The small-holding farmers tend to follow traditional farming systems over sustainable systems of productivity. A strategy was devised to introduce an agricultural system that ensures sustainable yield production and restores diversity in the agroecosystem. The research trial was performed to evaluate the net productivity and economic viability of the sorghum and mungbean intercropping system using an integrated nutrient management strategy.Research Method: The study comprised both split and combined doses of nationally recommended organic and mineral sources of fertilizers using mungbean and sorghum as sole and intercrops in the following sequence of treatments; T0 = unfertilized, T1 = 100% compost, T2 = 100% farmyard manure, T3 = 50% N & 50% P2O5, T4 = 50% compost + 25% N & 25% P2O5, T5 = 50% farmyard manure + 25% N & 25% P2O5.Findings: The results revealed that the sole cropping system was dominant over intercrop with a maximum grain or seed yield of 2229.1 kg ha-1, a biological yield of 7230.3 kg ha-1, and a harvest index of 30.34% of mungbean was obtained in sole standing of the crop. Similarly, the sole culture of sorghum gave a maximum grain or seed yield of 2779.8 kg ha-1, a biological or biomass yield of 10473 kg ha-1, and a harvest index of 25.63% compared to the mixed culture of sorghum and mungbean. The treatments with integrated nutrient supply gave significant results (P≤0.05) of all yield parameters in mungbean and sorghum compared to those where these fertilizers were applied in split doses. The economic analysis showed that mungbean-sorghum intercrop gave maximum net income benefits of PKR 225628 ha-1 and PKR 218635 ha-1 and the highest benefit-cost ratio of 1.91 and 1.90 in NP + compost and NP + farmyard manure, respectively.Research Limitations: A particular cereal might not be compatible with a legume, so further studies at the farmer field level in different locations are needed to ensure the compatibility of the crops and the suitability of the cropping system.Originality/Value: The short-duration growth pattern of cereal and legume grown in proximity affirms maximum yield and income benefits per unit area of land and thereby has great significance for farming communities to get more returns with limited available resources.