Vol. 16 No. 3
Rice-based cropping system approach for increasing farm family income
Author(s): A. M. DEKA, P. K. DEBCHOUDHURY AND B. KALITA
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted during 2014-15 and 2015-16 at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Shillongani, Nagaon, Assam to evaluate the productivity and profitability of rice-based cropping system in Assam. Treatments comprised of 3 dates of rice transplanting viz., 20th June, 5th July and 20th July and 2 methods of cultivation viz., conventional and SRI with 4 relay crops viz., lentil, pea, toria and niger. After relay crops, fodder maize and green gram in 1:1 row ratio was grown as intercrop in each plot. Rice transplanted on 20th June recorded higher rice equivalent yield (203 q ha -1) and production efficiency (55.54 kg ha -1day -1) of whole crop sequence as compared to other dates. SRI method of rice cultivation recorded significantly higher rice equivalent yield (203.51 q ha-1) and production efficiency (55.75 kg ha-1 day-1) of the whole crop sequence than conventional method. Rice-pea relay cropping recorded significantly higher rice equivalent yield (211 q ha-1) and production efficiency (58 kg ha-1 day-1) of whole crop sequence which was at par with rice-lentil system compared to rice-toria and riceniger. In both the years, the crop sequence ‘Sali rice transplanted on 20th June under SRI method relayed by lentil and then followed by summer intercrops of fodder maize + green gram’ recorded the highest net return (Rs. 2,12,419/- and Rs. 2,13,286/ - per ha, respectively) and B:C ratio was (4.11 and 4.13, respectively of the whole crop sequence. This treatment combination is closely followed by the treatment combination of rice transplanted on 20th June under SRI method relayed by pea and followed by summer intercrops.
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