ECONOMIC AND AGRONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF REDGRAM (CAJANUS CAJAN) AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO COTTON IN RAINFED LIGHT SOILS OF TELANGANA: A THREE-YEAR ON FARM EVALUATION

Abstract

On-farm trial entitled economic and agronomic assessment of redgram (cajanus cajan) as an alternative to cotton in rainfed light soils of Telangana: a three-year on-farm evaluation was conducted during kharif 2018–19, 2019–20 and 2020–21 at 15 farmer-field locations in villages adopted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Garimellapadu, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana, India. Rainfed farmers cultivating light-textured soils face production uncertainty and high input costs, making crop choice an important component of risk management. Three practices were compared: T1, redgram (pigeonpea; Cajanus cajan) at 90 × 60 cm with nipping at 45 days after sowing (DAS) and mepiquat chloride at 2 ml per 10 L water at flower initiation and peak flowering; T2, redgram at 90 × 60 cm without the additional interventions; and T3, cotton under farmer practice. Across the three-year summary, mean redgram yield was 1,297 kg ha⁻¹ in T1 and 1,214 kg ha⁻¹ in T2, compared with 1,458 kg ha⁻¹ in cotton. Despite lower yield, T1 recorded the highest mean net return (₹42,953 ha⁻¹) and benefit:cost ratio (2.36), while cotton recorded ₹24,145 ha⁻¹ and 1.44, respectively. Relative to cotton, T1 reduced cultivation cost by 42.8% and increased net returns by 77.9%; T2 reduced cultivation cost by 44.2% and increased net returns by 61.4%. T1 also recorded more primary and secondary branches per plant than T2 and cotton. The results indicate that every aspect of crop cultivation redgram at 90 × 60 cm with nipping at 45 days after sowing (DAS) and mepiquat chloride at 2 ml per 10 L water at flower initiation and peak flowering showed lower costs and more returns and cotton have shown higher costs and lower   returns.