Productivity and profitability of clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba)-cumin (Cuminum cyminum) cropping system as influenced by nutrient management under arid condition of Rajasthan

A field experiment was conducted during 2008–09 to 2010–11 at the Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan to study the effect of nutrient-management practices on the productivity and profitability of clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.]-cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) cropping system. Application of 50% N by farmyard manure (FYM) + 50% N by urea recorded significantly higher growth, yield attributes and seed yield of clusterbean, and the seed yield was 13.9, 12.2 and 34.7% higher over the application of 100% N by FYM, 100% N by urea and control respectively. Maximum growth, yield attributes and seed yield of succeeding cumin (0.49 t/ha) were recorded owing to residual effect of 100% N applied through FYM to clusterbean. Increase in the seed yield of cumin owing to residual effect of 100% N through FYM to clusterbean was 11.2 and 15.3% higher over 100% N by urea and control respectively. Among the direct nutrient-management treatments in cumin, application of 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) (40 kg N + 13 kg P) being at par with 75% RDF recorded significantly higher seed yield than 50% RDF and the control. Significantly highest system productivity (1.02 t/ha) of clusterbean-cumin cropping system in terms of cumin seed-equivalent yield (CSEY), net returns (60.23 × 10³/ha), benefit: cost ratio (1.43), crop profitability (286.81/ha/day), crop productivity (4.88 kg/ha/day) and nutrient uptake (43.3 kg N, 11.6 kg P and 41.4 kg K/ha) of the cropping system were registered with the combination of 50% N through FYM + 50% N through urea applied to clusterbean. As regards to nutrient management in cumin, an application of 100% RDF also resulted in the highest system productivity (1.03 t/ha), net returns (42.48 × 10³/ha), benefit: cost ratio (1.43), crop profitability (289.39/ha/day) and crop productivity (4.92 kg/ha/day) followed by 75% RDF. Interaction effect of nutrient management in clusterbean and in cumin on total system productivity was found significant. However, application of 50% N by FYM + 50% N by urea to clusterbean along with the application of 100% RDF to cumin was found most effective in obtaining the highest cumin seed-equivalent yield (1.11 t/ha) and net returns (69.01 × 10³/ha) by clusterbean-cumin cropping systems under arid condition of Rajasthan.