Production potential of spring sugarcane as influenced by intercropping of dual- purpose legumes under tarai conditions of Uttarakhand

A field experiment was conducted during 2000-02 at the Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, to study the effect of dual-purpose legume intercropping with spring sugarcane under different NPK levels. All intercrops, except Sesbania reduced the cane yield significantly. The reduction in cane yield was 14.0, 8.9 and 11.4% with cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], mungbean (Vigna radiata) and urdbean (Vigna mungo) intercropping respectively. Sugarcane intercropped with Sesbania (GM) yielded similar to that of sole sugarcane. Different fertility levels did not show significant effect on cane yield. Sugarcane + cow- pea gave 17.2, 15.8, 19.0 and 26.5% higher mean cane-equivalent yield (118.4 tonneslha) than sole sugarcane, sugarcane + mungbean, sugarcane + urdbean and sugarcane + Sesbania intercropping respectively. A dose of 100% of recommended NPK resulted in 5.0% higher cane-equivalent yield than 75% dose and was on a par with 125% of NPK dose. Sugarcane + cowpea also gave the highest net return of Rs 57,772 compared to Rs 41,449 with urdbean and Rs 48,330 with sole sugarcane. Respective benefit : cost raio was 2.06, 1.78 and 2.01. A dose of 125% of the recommended NPK gave highest monetary return and benefit : cost ratio with maintaining the residual soil-fertility status after harvest of sugarcane.