PRODUCTIVITY OF SOME KHARIF CROPS AS INFLUENCED BY VARYING DATES OF PLANTING UNDER RAIN-FED CONDITIONS

A field experiment was conducted for six consecutive years, 1983 to 1988 at Parbhani to assess the performance of some crops under varying dates of planting under rainfed conditions. Results revealed that advance dry sowing of different kharif crops on 15th June (24th MW) and immediately after receipt of monsoon rains (25th and 26th MW) proved most advantageous in respect of productivity and monetary returns. Sunflower, castor, pigeonpea and pearlmillet in that order, were identified for sowing in the first fortnight of July (27-29 MW). For showing in the second fortnight of July (29th and 30th MW), castor, pearlmillet, pigeonpea and sunflower are perserved over other crops.