Agronomic and economic performances of different cropping systems in a hot, arid environment: A case study from North-western Rajasthan, India

• We assessed performances of five cropping systems with two tillage and four nutrient application rates.
• Mothbean–clusterbean system was more productive and profitable than other systems.
• Deep tillage increased crop yields compared to conventional tillage.
• Combined application of FYM and chemical fertilizer increased crop yields.

A four-year field experiment was conducted in order to assess the productivity and economic potential of five cropping systems, with two tillage (conventional and deep) and four nutrient management [no application, farm yard manure (FYM) at 5 t ha−1, chemical fertilizer (CF), FYM at 5 t ha−1 + CF] treatments in a hot, arid environment at Bikaner, India. Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br], cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] and moth bean [Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal] were grown in five rotations. The five rotations were: moth bean–pearl millet, cluster bean–pearl millet, moth bean–cluster bean, pearl millet–pearl millet and pearl millet + cluster bean–pearl millet + cluster bean. The moth bean–cluster bean cropping system recorded 21–148%, 36–246% and 33–178% higher equivalent yields, return and water use efficiency, respectively than other cropping systems. Deep tillage increased equivalent yields by 20% higher than conventional tillage. The combined application of CF and FYM recorded 15 and 32% higher equivalent yields than their respective sole application. In this hot, arid ecosystem, a legume–legume system was more productive and profitable than other systems, and higher crop yields could be achieved by combining deep tillage with the integrated use of CF and FYM.