Productivity, profitability and stability of rice (Oryza sativa)-based cropping systems in eastern Uttar Pradesh

Six rice (Oryza sativa L.) - based cropping systems were tested from 1995–96 to 1999–2000 at Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh. Highly intensive crop sequences, viz. rice-potato (Solarium tuberosum L.) + Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson]-blackgram (Phaseolus mungo L.), rice-potato + wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.)- sesbania (Sesbania aculeata Pers.) green-manure and rice-potato + garlic (Allium sativum L.)-cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] green fodder + maize (Zea mays L.), were found to be distinctly better in terms of rice-grain equivalent (15,336 to 17,782 kg/ha) and productivity (51.6 to 53.1 kg grain/day/ha) compared to rice-wheat- sesbania green-manure (GM) sequence which yielded rice-grain equivalent of 11,450 kg/ha and productivity of 44 kg grain/day/ha. However, in terms of stability, the rice-wheat-green-manure sequence was more stable, with a stability index 0.95 and profitable (benefit: cost ratio 1.68) than these intensive cropping systems. The benefit: cost ratio of the systems, which had potato as a component crop, became low because of higher cost of cultivation due to more labour (man-days) requirement. Rice-potato + garlic - green fodder was more nutrients exhaustive sequence which decreased organic carbon status and nutrient availability of soil. However, in-situ green-manuring of Sesbania aculeata during summer (zaid) enhanced soil fertility and improved organic matter and nutrient availability. Rice-wheat sequence with sesbania green-manuring was more suitable for better net returns and stable production with minimum labour (man-days) requirement under irrigated conditions.