Optimizing Land Use, Yield and Profitability Through Early Summer Intercropping in Sugarcane in Northern Telangana, India

To increase the area, production and productivity of sugarcane and intercrops and for doubling the farmers income a field experiment was conducted at Regional Sugarcane and Rice Research Station, Rudrur, during 2020-2022 to study the land utilization efficiency, productivity and profitability of early summer intercrops in Sugarcane. Six crops viz., greengram, blackgram, sesame, clusterbean, tomato and coriander were grown as intercrops. Among these, sugarcane intercropped with greengram (1:3) recorded 165.3 t/ha cane equivalent yield which was 13.5 % more over sole sugarcane crop yield (142.9 t/ha). These intercropping systems recorded net returns of Rs. 2,60,964/- which was Rs. 58768/- more over sole sugarcane crop net returns (Rs. 2,02,208/-). The Sugarcane + greengram (1:3) intercropping system recorded highest BC ratio of 2.28 as compared to sole sugarcane crop BC ratio (2.11).