Effect of sowing schedule and integrated nutrient management on productivity, profitability and soil health in rainfed baby corn (Zea mays)-horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) cropping sequence

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2012 and 2013 at Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, to work out the effect of sowing schedule and integrated nutrient-management systems on the productivity and profitability of baby corn (Zea mays L.)-horse gram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (L.) Verdc.] cropping system. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with 4 treatments of sowing schedule (1st week of July, 2nd week of July and 3rd week of July and 4th week of July) in main plots and 4 levels of fertility (Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 125% of RDF, RDF + 5 t FYM, 125% of RDF + 5 t FYM) with 3 replications. The horse gram was taken as utera crop sown just before harvesting of baby corn of each sowing schedule by using common starter dose (20-50-20 kg N-P-K/ha). Baby cob, baby corn, green fodder of baby corn plants, horse gram yield and economics were higher in sowing of first schedule (1st week of July) which showed parity with second (2nd week of July) and third (3rd week of July) sowing schedule but significantly superior to the fourth sowing schedule, i.e. 4th week of July. Further, application of 125% RDF + 5 t FYM significantly increased the baby cob, baby corn, green fodder, horse gram yield over 100% RDF and125% RDF, but was at par with that obtained with 100% RDF + 5 t FYM. Combined effect of sowing of the first schedule of baby corn and horse gram and application of 125% RDF + 5 t FYM resulted in significantly higher baby corn-equivalent yield in terms of system productivity (2.8 t/ha) which was comparable to sowing of the second schedule with 125% RDF + 5 t FYM (2.7 t/ha), sowing of the third schedule with 125% RDF + 5 t FYM (2.3 t/ha), sowing of the first schedule with 100% RDF + 5 t FYM (2.7 t/ha), sowing of the second schedule with 100% RDF + 5 t FYM (2.5 t/ha) and sowing of the first schedule with 125% RDF (2.5 t/ha). Hence sowing of baby corn on the first schedule (1st week of July) with 125% RDF + 5 t FYM followed by horse gram revealed the maximum system productivity in terms of baby corn-equivalent yield (2.8 t/ha) and net profit (173, 000/ha). As regards to nutrient management in baby corn and horse gram system, the maximum nutrient uptake (205.7 kg N, 35.5 kg P and 222.8 kg K/ha) and soil fertility status after final harvesting of cropping system (256.19 kg N, 9.1 kg P₂O₅ and 281.00 kg K₂O/ha) were registered under 125% RDF + 5 t FYM.