COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF DIFFERENT CROPPING SYSTEMS BASED ON PIGEONPEA (CAJANUS-CAJAN)

An experiment was conducted during 1985-86 and 1987-88 under upland co ndition to study the comparative performance of pigeonpea [Cajanus caj an (L.) Millsp.]-based cropping systems. Pigeonpea-wheat [Triticum aes tivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.] gave the highest total biological yie ld (11.70 tonnes/ha) and grain yield in pigeonpea-yield equivalent (2. 84 tonnes/ha), which was significantly higher than that obtained in pi geonpea-ratoon (cutting) and pigeonpea-ratoon (picking) systems. Pigeo npea-wheat cropping system proved more economical with a net profit of Rs 10 814/ha than pigeonpea-ratoon (cutting) and pigeonpea-ratoon (pi cking). However, benefit: cost ratio was highest (1.89) in pigeonpea-r atoon(cutting), followed by pigeonpea-ratoon (picking), and the lowest (1.17) in pigeonpea-wheat system.