Role of conservation agriculture on productivity of groundnut in scarcity area of Pune district

Conservation Agriculture is an approach to managing agro-ecosystems for improved and sustained productivity, increased profits and food security while preserving and enhancing the resource base and the environment. Hence appropriate conservation strategies are necessary to improve the productivity. The present study was undertaken in scarcity area of Pune district of western Maharashtra. The study investigates that cropping intensity was more (143.58 percent) on the farms adopting mulching technology than the non adopters (124.57 percent). The per hectare use levels of inputs were higher on the mulching technology adopting farms compared to non-adopting farms. The cost of cultivation of groundnut in case of farms adopting mulching technology was more. The per hectare yield levels of groundnut crops grown on farms adopting mulching practice were higher almost by 51 percent than the non adopting farms. The per hectare gross returns of the groundnut indicated that the technology adopting farmers could get 49 percent higher gross returns. Thus, the conservation agriculture through mulching technology in groundnut cultivation has become an important measure for increasing crop production and stabilizing farm income.