Diversification of Crops in Rice-wheat Cropping System for Higher Productivity and Profitability of Farmers in Eastern Uttar Pradesh

Author: Neeraj Kumar, Raj Bahadur, Singh A.K., Robin Kumar, Singh S.P., Pandey A.K., Baheliya A.K. and Dharmendra Kumar

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Abstract

The continuous cultivation of rice has resulted in a decline in soil quality, posing a serious threat to agricultural sustainability. In response, efforts are being made to promote crop diversification by introducing a variety of crop types to restore soil health. A field experiment spanning from 2017 to 2019 at the Agronomy Research Farm in Ayodhya evaluated ten cropping systems for their productivity, sustainability, soil fertility and economic viability. The tested crop sequences included rice-wheat-fallow, rice-wheat-greengram, rice-frenchbean-greengram, rice-gram-cowpea (veg), rice-mustard-greengram, rice-linseed-black gram, rice-berseem-sudanchari, rice- oat- maize+cowpea, rice-cauliflower-okra, and rice-potato-cowpea (veg). Among these, the rice-cauliflower-okra cropping system showed the highest rice equivalent yield 18.63 t/ha/annum, followed by rice-potato-cowpea (veg) and rice-french bean-greengram. The rice-cauliflower-okra system also recorded the highest net return of Rs. 160443 per year. The study revealed significant effects of different cropping sequences on soil parameters such as available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and organic carbon content.

Keywords

Rice based cropping system, Rice Equivalent Yield, Diversification, System Productivity and Profitability

Conclusion

Introducing crop diversification, including legumes, fodder, vegetables, and oilseeds, into the conventional rice-wheat cropping system enhances productivity, profitability, rice equivalent yield (REY), land use efficiency, and energy. These improvements were statistically comparable to the rice-french bean-green gram system, with potato and fodder crops following closely. Significant enhancements in available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in the soil were observed in the rice-french bean-green gram and rice-wheat-green gram cropping systems. Notably, post-harvest soil organic carbon content was consistently highest when legumes were incorporated. While rice-potato-cowpea demonstrated the highest productivity and rice-french bean-green gram the highest profitability, the latter proved to be the most sustainable and profitable for farmers. The findings suggest that adopting diversified cropping practices, particularly incorporating legumes, offers a pathway for farmers in the Eastern Gangetic Plains of India to improve livelihoods, food security, and overall sustainability in agriculture.

References

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How to cite this article

Neeraj Kumar, Raj Bahadur, Singh A.K., Robin Kumar, Singh S.P., Pandey A.K., Baheliya A.K. and Dharmendra Kumar (2021). Diversification of Crops in Rice-wheat Cropping System for Higher Productivity and Profitability of Farmers in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 13(3a): 840-845.