Cotton and Soybean Based Risk Resilient Intercropping Systems for Rainfed Black Soils of Akola District of Maharashtra, India

The National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture Project (NICRA) of AICRP for Dryland Agriculture, Dr. PDKV, Akola is implemented with study to analyze and popularize risk resilient rainfed intercropping systems in black soils of Akola district to mitigate climate vulnerability. Keeping this point in view, the assessment studies on different intercropping systems along with their respective sole crops were implemented as technology demonstrations in a participatory demonstration and action research mode with active participation of farmers in Warkhed and Kajleshwar village of Barshitakli Taluka of Akola district of Maharashtra during the year 2021-22 to 2023-24 as a part of the study. The intercropping system of soybean + pigeonpea (4:2) has given significantly higher soybean equivalent yield (2040 kg ha-1), net monetary returns (Rs.80891/- ha-1) and B:C ratio (3.65). Soybean + piegeonpea (6:1) also significantly enhance the soybean equivalent yield which was 1829 kg ha-1 and B:C ratio of 3.03 which was higher than sole soybean i.e 1415 kg ha-1 with B:C ratio of 2.59. Cotton + greengram (1:1) recorded higher cotton equivalent yield (2116 Kg ha-1), net monetary returns (Rs.95399/- ha-1), B:C ratio (2.82) and rainwater use efficiency (2.58) over sole cotton which has recorded yield of 1645 Kg ha-1, net monetary returns (Rs.74035/- ha-1), B:C ratio (2.57) and rainwater use efficiency (2.03). In Akola district of Maharashtra soybean + pigeonpea (4:2) and cotton + greengram (1:1) were identified as the best risk resilient intercropping systems that would help provide sustainable crop production in rainfed regions.