Resource use efficiency of transgenic cotton and peanut intercropping system using modified fertilization technique

Of the several mechanisms that can bring about efficient resource use, the most widelyapplicable one is intercropping systems that can make better use of resources. The aim of thisstudy was to evaluate resource capture and resource use efficiency in transgenic cotton-peanutintercropping system and in their respective sole crops with using 25-50% substitution ofrecommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) of cotton through farmyard manure (FYM) along with100 % RDN through urea and control (0N). Apparent crop water productivity, nutrient useefficiency, economic returns and modern intercropping indices (system productivity index,actual yield loss, intercropping advantage index, nitrogen stress factor, etc.) were measured formaking better understanding of resource use efficiency. Comparisons of intercropped peanutwith sole peanut were emphasized because of shrinking area of peanut in the south-east Asianregion represents a threat to agricultural system sustainability. Cotton + peanut intercroppingsystem resulted in improved water productivity (19%), nutrient use efficiency (15-20%) andmonetary advantage index (16,709) as measured with modern tools of intercropping indicescompared with sole crops of cotton and peanut. Peanut cultivated as sole crop attained the leastresource productivity in terms of apparent crop water productivity (0.71 kg m-3), nutrient useefficiency (4.47 kg grain kg N-1) and total factor productivity (0.07). Among fertility levels,substitution of 25% RDN of cotton through FYM maintained higher apparent crop waterproductivity (17%), monetary advantage index (6%), system productivity index (9%) andnutrient use efficiencies (15-17%) over 100% RDN through urea only. This work provides basisfor efficient resource use by peanut intercropping with cotton which simultaneously enhancesdomestic oilseed production and reduce import load of cooking oil without sacrificing theproductivity of main crop of cotton in India and other cotton growing countries of the world.