A field experiment was conducted during 2 rainy (kharif), winter (rabi) and summer seasons (2015-17) on a sandy clay loam soil at New Delhi to evaluate 5 cropping systems viz., maize–pea–okra, maize–mustard–green gram, cotton–wheat, bottle gourd–onion and okra–wheat, for productivity, profitability and energetics. The experiment was laid-out in a randomized block design replicated 4 times. Bottle gourd–onion cropping system recorded the highest wheat-grain-equivalent yield (WGEY) of t/ha, followed by maize–pea– okra ( t/ha). The lowest WGEY was recorded with maize–mustard–green gram ( t/ha). The gross returns (₹ 103 /ha), net returns (₹ /ha), benefit: cost ratio (), were also higher with bottle gourd–onion cropping system, while maize– mustard–green gram registered the lowest gross returns, net returns and B: C ratio. The lesser input energy ( x 103 MJ/ha) and higher energy productivity ( g/MJ) was recorded with bottle gourd – onion cropping system. All the five cropping systems can suitably substitute the existing rice – wheat cropping system under marginal farmer’s situations, not only by providing higher productivity and returns, but also provide a regular income throughout the year. | System productivity and energetics of high-value crops embedded diversified cropping systems
