PERFORMANCE OF CROPPING SYSTEMS BASED ON WINTER MAIZE (ZEA-MAYS) UNDER IRRIGATED CONDITION

A field experiment was carried out at Ludhiana during 1987-88 to 1990- 91 to evaluate the production potential of 10 winter maize (Zea mays L .)-based cropping systems. Winter maize gave higher grain yield of 4 9 94 and 4 712 kg/ha when raised after groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) a nd pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] respectively, but gave low y ield (4 023 kg/ha) after rice (Oryza sativa L.). Winter maize (transpl anted) after potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) gave significantly higher g rain yield (4 380 kg/ha) than when it followed toria [Brassica rapa (L .) Thell. emend. Metzger var napus L.; syn Brassica campestris L. ssp oleifera (Metzger) Sinsk. var toria]. On calculation the winter maize (transplanted)-pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. emend. Stu ntz] for fodder-potato system gave the highest winter maize-equivalent yield (29.67 tonnes/ha), gross income (Rs 65 263/ha), net income (Rs 27 340/ha) and productivity efficiency (102.3 kg/ha/day). Winter maize -greengram (Phaseolus radiatus L.) or sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) system gave low winter maize-equivalent yield (5.7 and 6.9 tonnes/ha) and gross income (Rs 12 506 and 15 180/ha), and resulted in a loss of Rs 2 225 and 2 283/ha respectively. Land-use efficiency was highest ( 93.9%) in winter maize-pigeonpea, followed by winter maize-groundnut a nd was lowest in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol)-maiz e. Cropping system having legume or potato as one of the components in creased the organic carbon and available P and K status of the soil.