Diversification of rice (Oryza sativa)-based cropping systems for higher productivity, profitability and resource-use efficiency under irrigated ecosystem of Jharkhand Prasad Devkant1, Yadava M.S.2, Singh C.S.3,* Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand-834 006 1SMS, Garwa, KVK 2Chief Scientist-cum-University Professor, Department of Agronomy, Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand-834 006 3Junior Scientist-cum-Asstt. Professor, Department of Agronomy, Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand-834 006 *Corresponding author Email: cssingh15@gmail.com
Online published on 25 September, 2013. Abstract A field experiment was conducted at Kanke, Ranchi under irrigated condition in 2008–09 and 2009–10 to evaluate the production potential, nutrient uptake, resource use efficiency and economics of eight rice (Oryza sativa L.)-based cropping systems. Eight cropping systems viz. rice–fallow, rice–wheat {Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol}, rice–mustard {Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj & Cosson}–greengram {Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek}, rice–rajmash (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)–greengram, rice–potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)–greengram, rice–wheat + mustard (5:1)–greengram, rice–wheat + rajmash (5:1)–greengram, and rice–potato + wheat (1:1)– greengram were evaluated in the study. Among the cropping systems, rice–potato + wheat (1:1)–greengram cropping system recorded highest system productivity (20.39 t REGY/ha), land use efficiency (95.89), production efficiency (55.58 kg REGY/ha/day) and employment generation (293 man days/ha) as compared to other cropping systems. Crop sequences with potato as rabi crop resulted in significantly higher N, P and K uptake, while S uptake was significantly higher in rice–mustard–greengram sequence. Economic analysis revealed that the maximum net profit (125 × 103  /ha), benefit:cost ratio (1.61) and monetary efficiency (342.7 /ha/day) were recorded in rice–potato–greengram crop sequence closely followed by rice–potato + wheat (1:1)–greengram, which were significantly superior over other cropping systems. Based on study, rice–potato + wheat (1:1)–greengram and rice–potato–greengram were found to be the most productive, resource-use efficient and remunerative cropping system under irrigated conditions and can be followed in place of rice–wheat or rice–fallow systems for higher profitability. Top Keywords Cropping systems, Production efficiency, Resource-use efficiency, Rice equivalent yield, Systems productivity. Top |