Effect of mulching on yield and economics of rainfed rice (Oryza sativa)-based cropping sequences in lower Assam

A field experiment was conducted during 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 on a silty clay-loam soil, to find out the effect of mulching on yield and economics of winter crops grown after the rice (Oryza sativa L.) and to identify suitable rice-based cropping sequences under rainfed situations of lower Assam. Rice as base crop gave an yield of 53.1 q/ha with net returns of Rs 9,990. Among the sequential crops, radish (Raphanus sativus L.) gave the highest yield (274.2 q/h) followed by potato (Solarium tuberosum L), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. nom. Cons.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.). The interaction of winter crops x mulching showed that the rate of increase in yield owing to mulching was highest (29%) with tomato, followed by potato (21%). Net returns from potato, tomato and radish were similar (Rs 13, 333 to Rs 16, 635/ha) under mulching, while under no mulching net returns from tomato were less than from radish and potato. Yield and net returns were the lowest with gram (Cicer arietinum L). Rice-potato cropping sequence gave the highest rice-equivalent yield (129.1 q/ha) and production efficiency (57.7 kg/ha/ day) with low land-use efficiency (61.4%). However, net returns (Rs 24,035/ha) under this sequence were similar to that under rice-radish or rice-tomato.