Bio-economic evaluation of maize (Zea mays) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) intercropping in drought-prone areas of Chotonagpur plateau region of Jharkhand

A field experiment was conducted at Giridish farm of Chotonagpur Plateau region of Jharkhand state during 1997-98 and 1998-99 for bio-economical evaluation of maize (Zea mays L.)-groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in- tercropping system in rainfed Alfisols at varying doses of nitrogen (0, 30 and 60 kglha). Higher values of land - equivalent ratio, competition ratio, monetary advantage and area-time equivalent ratio were obtained by maize+ groundnut in 2:2 row ratio than that of 1 :I row ratio, and 30 kg Nlha recorded bettter performance than 60 kg Nlha. The uptake of NPK was found maximum (300.62 kglha) by maize + groundnut (2:2), higher than that of 1.1 row ra- tio (276.20 kglha) and least was by sole groundnut (132.20 kglha). Sole groundnut recorded significantly high maize-equivalent yield (79.28 qlha), net returns (Rs. 23,238lha) and benefit : cost ratio (2.38), followed by maize+ groundnut in 2:2 ratio (62.26 qlha, Rs 18,595lha and 2.32 respectively). The yield of maize did not vary much for intercropping, but the pod yield of groundnut was reduced by 52.2% and 47.7% by intercropping with maize.