Intercropping rice (Oryza sativa) with jute (Corchorus capsularis) and its impact on total productivity and profitability under rainfed lowland ecology

A field study was conducted to work out the advantages of growing rice (Oryza sativa L.) and jute (Corchorus capsularis L.) at different intercrop configurations under rainfed lowland situation during wet season in 2007 and 2008 at Cuttack. Three different intercropped stands, viz., one row of jute alternated with one (1:1), two (2:1) and four (4:1) rows of rice were compared with their respective pure stands under three levels of nitrogen, [0, 40 and recommended (for rice) N of 60 kg/ha]. Results showed comparable grain yield of rice under sole (3.80 and 3.30 t/ha in 2007 and 2008) and 4:1 intercropped stand (3.56 and 3.12 t/ha in 2007 and 2008), which were significantly higher than the other intercropped stands. Fibre yield at pure stands (2.54 and 2.15 t/ha in 2007 and 2008) was significantly higher than those at intercropped stands; while among intercropped stands, it was significantly higher (1.40 and 1.26 t/ha) at 1: 1 stand ratio. Studies on N management determined an optimum dose of 60 kg N/ha ensuring higher yield and N uptake in jute, which was however comparable with 40 kg N/ha in rice. Besides pure stands, N uptake at intercrop stands was higher at 4:1 and 1:1 stands in rice and jute respectively. Advantages of their intercropping as adjudged with land equivalent ratio and area time equivalent ratio were greater in 4:1 stands, deriving higher system productivity (5.22 and 4.55 t/ha), net return (

13,164 and 13,729) and B:C ratio (1.68 and 1.72) and also higher system uptake of N (74.3 and 78.5 kg N/ha). Therefore, the study could suggest intercropping rice with jute at 4:1 stand ratio treated with 40 kg N/ha for enhancing total productivity and profitability of the rainfed lowland rice production system.