Author(s): R. CHAKRABORTY AND S. CHATTERJEE

Abstract: The present study mainly focuses on the importance of promoting Conservation Agriculture (CA) in Nadia district of West Bengal. To judge the highest economic return under various cropping systems, an On-Station experimental trial was performed at Balindi Farm, BCKV in 2019-20 and 2020-21 sessions in order to evaluate the production, yield, and economic profitability of seven cropping systems and data were analysed on System Rice Equivalent Yield (kg/ha), System Gross Return(Rs. /ha), System Net Return (Rs. /ha) and System Return-Cost ratio for two years over three tillage operations and five doses of fertilizer treatments. A three factor (Cropping System, Tillage and Treatments) Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) pooled over two years (2019-20 and 2020-21) with three replications has been performed for the entire study. The critical differences of main and interaction effects have been analysed subsequently with Tukey’s post hoc test.The result depicts that the second year of trial has achieved better system rice equivalent yield and economic return as well over previous year. Among seven cropping systems, Kharif Rice-Potato-Pumpkin has achieved the highest economic return pooled over years but differs individually as Kharif Rice-Maize-Cowpea exhibits better economic return on first year. Among the three tillage operations, conventional tillage has given highest economic return in both the years. In case of various treatments, 0% Residue + 100% RDF has achieved the highest economic return pooled over years but differs individually as 50% Residue + 100% RDF exhibits better economic return on first year. Pooled analysis over the years exhibits better economic return in Kharif Rice-Maize-Cowpea in conventional tillage with 100% Residue + 50% RDF which differs in the second year, resulting higher economic return in Kharif Rice-Potato-Pumpkin cropping system in conventional tillage with 50% Residue + 75% RDF. So, finally after two years of experimentations, farmers would be recommended to follow Kharif rice-Potato-Pumpkin with reduced tillage and 50% crop residue for betterment of Conservation Agriculture apparently different from the conventional one in Nadia district of West Bengal.

DOI: 10.22271/09746315.2023.v19.i2.1724

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