Evaluation of Soybean and Blackgram Based Double Cropping Systems under Rainfed Conditions of the Kymore Plateau Zone of Madhya Pradesh, India

Rainfed cropping in the Kymore Plateau Zone of Madhya Pradesh is constrained by the availability of residual soil moisture for crops grown after the monsoon season. A field experiment was undertaken from 2022 to 2024 at Kuthulia Farm, College of Agriculture, Rewa, to evaluate the productivity and economic performance of soybean- and blackgram-based double-cropping systems. A split-plot design with three replications was used. Short-duration soybean and blackgram formed the main-plot treatments during the kharif season, while chickpea, linseed, lentil, mustard and field pea were evaluated as succeeding rabi crops in subplots. Crops were established on raised beds for in situ moisture conservation. System productivity was assessed through soybean-equivalent yield, together with net returns and benefit–cost ratios. Blackgram-based sequences generally recorded greater productivity and profitability than soybean-based sequences. In 2022, blackgram–field pea produced the highest soybean-equivalent yield (1,347.5 kg ha⁻¹), net return (₹22,562 ha⁻¹) and benefit–cost ratio (1.88). In 2023, blackgram–lentil ranked highest for these measures (3,204 kg ha⁻¹, ₹74,085 ha⁻¹ and 2.37, respectively). In 2024, blackgram–chickpea recorded the highest values (3,483.3 kg ha⁻¹, ₹106,812 ha⁻¹ and 2.67, respectively). The sequence with the highest performance changed between years. These findings suggest that short-duration blackgram can be a suitable kharif component in rainfed double cropping, provided the succeeding rabi crop is selected with consideration of seasonal conditions and economic performance.