ECONOMICS OF INTERCROPPING WITH AUTUMN SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM-OFFICINARUM) IN COMMAND AREA OF SOUTHERN RAJASTHAN

A field experiment was conducted during 1987-88 and 1988-89 to evaluat e economics of inter- and sequence cropping with autumn-planted sugarc ane (Saccharum officinarum L.). Intercropping reduced the autumn cane yield by 0.9-8.7%, but found higher yielder to spring cane in rotation with winter crops. Closer row spacing (75 cm) of autumn cane yielded 10.7% higher than 100 cm row spacing. Intercropping of garlic (Allium sativum L.) with autumn cane increased the cane-equivalent yield by 30 .7%, followed by that of onion (Allium cepa L.) (17.6-23.6%). An econo mic analysis with respect to net income per rupee investment indicated that onion either in companionship with autumn cane (+ 1.94) or in se quence with spring cane (+ 1.61) was superior and followed by garlic ( + 1.47) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) (+ 1.33) with autumn cane.