Production potential and economics of different rice-based relay cropping systems under rainfed shallow lowlands of coastal Orissa

The production potential of blackgram (Vigna mungo), fieldpea (Pisum sativum), linseed (Linum usitatissimum) and lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus) crops and their economics under rice (Oryza sativa) based relay cropping systems was studied in five different villages of Tangi Block in the Khurda district of Orissa. The highest seed yield (6.53 q ha-1) recorded in lathyrus followed by linseed (6.44 q ha-1). However, crops like blackgram (Rs. 9936 ha-1) and fieldpea (Rs. 7742 ha-1) showed better performance in terms of market value. Computation of economics revealed that rice - blackgram relay cropping system recorded the highest rice equivalent yield (63.1 q ha-1), net return (Rs. 15,916 ha-1), per day return (Rs. 75.08 ha-1) and benefit: cost ratio (2.43). While rice-linseed sequence registered the highest land-utilization efficiency (64.1%) followed by rice-fieldpea sequence (60.3%).