Energetic and Economic Analysis of Rice Based Cropping System-A Case Study

To investigate the energy input, output, output-input energy ratio, specific energy requirement and cost economics of different rice based cropping system on IGKV farm, four major crops like rice, wheat, chickpea and linseed were selected. The energy consumption of the various operations in each crop production has been recorded. Total energy input and output of different cropping systems were estimated by using the standard energy equivalents. The rice-wheat cropping system recorded the highest energy input of 29,215 MJ/ha, which was closely followed by rice-linseed system 22,749 MJ/ha. The highest total energy output was obtained from rice-wheat i. e. 2,45,306 MJ/ha, followed by rice-chickpea 2,18,731 MJ/ha and rice-linseed 1,99,906 MJ/ha. Among the different cropping system, the highest energy output-input ratio of 10.73 was obtained from rice-chickpea followed by rice-linseed (8.78) and rice-wheat (8.39). The specific energy required was found lowest in rice-chickpea cropping system having value of 2.81 MJ/kg followed by rice-wheat and rice-linseed 3.54, and 3.64 MJ/kg respectively. Under the different cropping systems the lowest input cost was Rs. 43,005 per ha in rice-wheat cropping system followed by rice–linseed and rice-chickpea. The maximum net return Rs. 86,576 per ha was found under rice-chickpea followed by rice-wheat and rice-linseed (Rs.70,478 and 63,523 per ha respectively). The highest benefit-cost ratio of 1.97 was obtained in rice-chickpea cropping system followed by rice-wheat (1.64) and rice-linseed (1.49).