Performance of rice (Oryza sativa) -based crop sequences in Central Plains Zone of Uttar Pradesh

An experiment was conducted during 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–2001, at Regional Research Sub-station Saini, Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh, to work out suitable and profitable rice (Oryza sativa L.)-based crop sequence on sandy-loam soil. The maximum rice-grain-equivalent yield was recorded in rice-chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) + linseed (Linum usitatissimum L)-cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) crops sequence (162.61 q/ha), followed by rice-chickpea + yellow season (Brassica campestris var. yellow sarson)-cucumber (161.22 q/ha) and were significantly superior to that of remaining crop sequences. The lowest rice-grain equivalent (111.88 q/ha) was found under rice-chickpea+linseed-mungbean (Phaseolus radiatus L) crop sequence. Production efficiency based on 3 years was found highest with rice-chickpea+linseed-cucumber (50.97 kg/ha/day), followed by rice chickpea+yellow sarson-cucumber (50.54 kg/ha/day). The total monetary gain, returns/ha/day and benefit: cost ratio were recorded maximum with rice-chickpea+linseed-cucumber, followed by rice-chickpea+yellow sarson-cucumber. The maximum land-use efficiency was associated with rice-toria (Brassica campestris var. toria)-wheat-cucumber (94.5%).