Productivity and profitability of fodder sorghum + cowpea – chickpea cropping systemas influenced by organic manure, phosphorus and sulphur application in central India

A field experiment was carried to find out the effect of phosphorus, sulphur and FYM on productivity and profitability of fodder sorghum + cowpea – chickpea cropping system during 2010–11 and 2011–12 at Jhansi. Experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications, comprising of two FYM levels, three P2O5 levels and two sulphur levels. Use of 60 kg P2O5 ha−1 gave significantly higher dry fodder yield (11.0 x 103 kg ha−1) of sorghum + cowpea than 30 kg P2O5 ha−1. Application of FYM (5 t ha−1) and sulphur (20 kg ha−1) gave significantly higher green fodder yield (41.7 x 103 and 41.3 x 103 kg ha−1, respectively) than their respective controls. Chickpea responded to FYM application and recorded 14.2, 20.3 and 14.7% increase in grains/pod, grain and stover yield, respectively. Application of 30 kg P2O5 ha−1 produced 7.2, 13.4, 19.1 and 31.9% higher plant m−2, pods plant−1, straw and grain yield, respectively over the control, however 60 kg P2O5 ha−1 did not have significant difference from 30 kg P2O5 ha−1. Sulphur application (20 kg S ha−1) to chickpea recorded increased branching and higher grain (9.0%) and straw (11.4%) yield over control. Significantly higher system productivity in term of chickpea equivalent yield was obtained with the application of 5 t FYM ha−1, 30 kg P2O5 ha−1and 20 kg S ha−1.The agronomic use efficiency (AUE) of P was 1.5 to 1.7 times higher at 30 kg P2O5 ha−1 as compared to 60 kg P2O5 ha−1. System profitability, net return and B: C ratio were also higher with the application of 5 t FYM ha−1, 60 kg P2O5 ha−1 and 20 kg S ha−1 in fodder – food cropping system.