Journal of Environmental Biology

Boosting productivity, profitability and energy efficiency in rainfed cotton through mechanization in Alfisols

A.V. Ramanjaneyulu¹*, N. Sainath², D. Swetha³, D. Sravanthi⁴, A. Sudarshanam⁵, B. Ramprasad⁶ and I.G. Ramakrushna⁷     

¹Department of Agronomy,  AICRP on Agroforestry, Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University, Rajendranagar-500 030, India                      

²Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, RARS, Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University, Jagtial-505 455, India   

³Department of Agronomy,  Agricultural Research Station, Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University, Tornala-502 114, India

⁴Department of Agronomy,  Agricultural College, Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University, Aswaraopet-507 301, India

⁵Department of Plant Breeding, RARS, Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University, Warangal-506 007, India

⁶Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Station, Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University, Adilabad-504 001, India

⁷Department of Agronomy, ICAR-Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur-440 010, India

Received: 05 October 2024                   Revised: 27 December 2024                   Accepted: 28 June 2025

*Corresponding Author Email : anumularaman2022@ gmail.com                     *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5567-6639

Abstract

Aim: The study aimed to assess the impact of mechanization on productivity, profitability, energetics and quality of cotton varieties under rainfed conditions in Alfisols.

Methodology: The experiment evaluated two main treatments viz., M1: Conventional practices (CPs) and M2: Mechanization practices (MPs) and three sub treatments (varieties) viz., V1: WGCV-48, V2: WGCV-79 and V3: NCS-954, replicated four times in a split plot design. It was conducted during kharif seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21 at the Agricultural Research Station, Tornala, Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University, Telangana, India.

Results: The perusal of data showed significant increase in the number of sympodia, bolls, higher seed cotton (1989 kg ha^-1), total biomass (4176 kg ha-1) were registered with MPs over CPs (1723 and 3790 kg ha^-1). Further, MPs also recorded significantly higher energy output (26,931 MJ ha^-1), additional net returns (Rs. 17,216 ha^-1) besides saving 42.5 labour days and 66.2 hours time ha^-1 over CPs. Among the varieties, the NCS-954 variety (1996 kg ha^-1) had significantly out yielded WGCV-48 (1805 kg ha^-1) and WGCV-79 (1631 kg ha^-1). The ginning percent, micronaire value and elongation percent favoured WGCV-79 and NCS-954 varieties.

Interpretation: The study advocates adoption of mechanization and cultivation of NCS-954 variety for minimizing the cost of production, enhancing the yield and income in addition to energy returns.

Key words: Alfisols, Energy indices, Mechanization, Rainfed cotton

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