Diversification of rice (Oryza sativaL.)-based cropping systems for higher productivity, resource-use efficiency and economic returns in south Gujarat, India

Ram A. Jat, R. A. Dungrani, M. K. Arvadia, Kanwar L. Sahrawat
2012 Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science  
Continuous adoption of rice-rice cropping system has led to deterioration of soil quality resulting in a serious threat to its sustainability in high rainfall zone of South Gujarat, India. Therefore crop diversification with wider choice in the production of a variety of crops is being promoted to restore the soil quality. A field experiment was conducted at Navsari, India during 2003-2007 on heavy black soil to evaluate the production potential, sustainability, resource-use efficiency and
more » ... mics of 10 cropping systems based on rice (Oryza sativa L.). System productivity of rice -fenugreek -okra was the highest (25.73 ton/ha) followed by rice-onioncowpea (24.15 ton/ha). Lowest System productivity was registered with rice-wheat-fallow system (7.85 ton/ha). Sustainable yield index (0.94), production efficiency (102.94 kg/ha/day), and field water use efficiency (32.99 kg/ha-cm) were maximum with rice -fenugreek -okra system. Similarly, net return (Rs 96286/ha), net return per rupee invested (Rs 2.84), and production efficiency (Rs 385.14 /ha/day) and field water use efficiency (Rs 1234.43/ha-cm) in economic terms was maximum with rice -fenugreek -okra cropping sequence. Thus rice -fenugreek -okra was the most productive, sustainable, resource-use efficient and remunerative cropping system followed by rice-onion-cowpea system.
doi:10.1080/03650340.2010.533172 fatcat:ecypnqwwnfhadpvebuus7zvwve