Diversification of rice (Oryza sativa)-based cropping systems for higher productivity, profitability and resource-use efficiency under irrigated ecosystem of Jharkhand

A field experiment was conducted at Kanke, Ranchi under irrigated condition in 200809 and 200910 to evaluate the production potential, nutrient uptake, resource use efficiency and economics of eight rice (Oryza sa- tiva L.)-based cropping systems. Eight cropping systems viz. ricefallow, ricewheat {Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol}, ricemustard {Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj & Cosson}greengram {Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek}, ricerajmash (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)greengram, ricepotato (Solanum tuberosum L.)greengram, ricewheat + mustard (5:1)greengram, ricewheat + rajmash (5:1)greengram, and ricepotato + wheat (1:1) greengram were evaluated in the study. Among the cropping systems, ricepotato + wheat (1:1)greengram crop- ping system recorded highest system productivity (20.39 t REGY/ha), land use efficiency (95.89), production effi- ciency (55.58 kg REGY/ha/day) and employment generation (293 man days/ha) as compared to other cropping systems. Crop sequences with potato as rabi crop resulted in significantly higher N, P and K uptake, while S up- take was significantly higher in ricemustardgreengram sequence. Economic analysis revealed that the maxi- mum net profit (125 103 /ha), benefit:cost ratio (1.61) and monetary efficiency (342.7 /ha/day) were recorded in ricepotatogreengram crop sequence closely followed by ricepotato + wheat (1:1)greengram, which were significantly superior over other cropping systems. Based on study, ricepotato + wheat (1:1)greengram and ricepotatogreengram were found to be the most productive, resource-use efficient and remunerative cropping system under irrigated conditions and can be followed in place of ricewheat or ricefallow systems for higher profitability.