SUSTAINABILITY OF RAINY-SEASON CROPPING SYSTEMS UNDER DRYLAND CONDITIONS OF VERTISOLS

An experiment was conducted during 1988-1993 on Vertisols to study sus tainability of rainy-season (kharif) cropping systems under rainfed co nditons. Grain yield of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) Br. reme nd. Stuntz] (19.64 q/ha) incressed owing to intercropping with pigeonp ea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] (3.58 q/ha) compared with sole pearl m illet (17.68 q/ha) showing complimentary effects. Pearl millet yield i ncreased by 17.9% under sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)-pearl millet system compared with continous pearl millet and by 32.8% under sunflow er-pearl millet + pigeonpea system compared with sorghum [Sorghum bico lor (L.) Moench]-pearl miliet + pigeonpea system. Significantly highes t monetary returns (Rs 9,414/ha) were obtained from pearl millet + pig eonpea (2 : 1) intercropping in current-year cropping. Similarly, sole pearl millet also gave significantly more monetary returns (Rs 6,980/ ha) than rest of the sole crops. Sustainable value index was the highe st (0.62) under pearl millet + pigeonpea (2 : 1) intercropping, follow ed by sole pearl millet (SVI 0.50), indicating sustainability of these crops during the kharif season on medium deep Vertisols (30-45 cm) of dryland areas.