PERFORMANCE OF CROPS AND CROPPING SYSTEMS UNDER DIFFERENT DATES OF SOWING

A field experiment with monsoon crops and cropping systems as a contin gent crop planning was conducted at Solapur during 1991 and 1992. The sowing of monsoon crops in June proved superior to delayed sowing. The performance of crops in order of priority was sunflower (Hehanthus an nuus L.). and pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. emend. Stun tz] fbr delayed-sown condition. Redgram or pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L .) Millsp.] failed to achieve optimum yield under stressed-moisture si tuation and also under intercropping system in delayed sowing. Croppin g systems, viz. pearl millet redgram and sunflower + redgram, were fou nd suitable only under normal sown conditions. moisture use by all mon soon crops sown in June was higher than crops sown later. Early-sown r edgram had a highest moisture use of 370 Mn. The highest moisture-use efficiency cas recorded by pearl millet crop (5.7 kg/ha-mm).