Diversification of rice (Oryza sativa L.)-based cropping systems for higher productivity, resource-use efficiency\ud and economic returns in south Gujarat, India

摘要

The continuous growing of rice has led to a deterioration in soil quality, resulting\udin a serious threat to agricultural sustainability in the high rainfall zone of south\udGujarat, India. Therefore, crop diversification with a wider choice in the\udproduction of crop varieties is being promoted to restore the soil quality. A field\udexperiment was conducted in Navsari, India during 2003–2007 on a Vertisol to\udevaluate the productivity, sustainability, resource-use efficiency and economics of\ud10 rice-based cropping systems. The results showed that system productivity for\udrice–fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)–okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) was\udhighest (25.73 t ha71), followed by rice–onion (Allium cepa)–cowpea (Vigna\udsinensis L.) (24.15 t ha71); and the lowest system productivity was observed with\udthe rice–wheat (Triticum aestivum)–fallow system (7.85 t ha71). The sustainable\udyield index (0.97), production efficiency (102.94 kg ha71 day71) and field water\uduse efficiency (15.98 kg ha71 mm71) were maximum with the rice–fenugreek–\udokra system. Similarly, net return (96,286 Rs ha71), net return per rupee invested\ud(2.83 Rs), monetary production efficiency (385.14 Rs ha71 day71) and water use\udefficiency (59.80 Rs ha71 mm71) were maximum with the rice–fenugreek–okra\udcropping sequence. There were significant effects of various cropping sequences\udon available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic carbon content in the\udsoil. Overall, the rice–fenugreek–okra system was found to be the most\udproductive, sustainable, resource-use efficient and remunerative cropping system,\udfollowed by the rice–onion–cowpea system.