Indian Journal of Agronomy

A field experiment was conducted at farmers’ fields in the district of Dehradun, Uttarakhand, during 2009–10 and 2010–11, to find out the alternate efficient cropping systems for rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.] in western Himalayas. Five cropping systems including the existing rice–wheat system were tested at 12 farmers’ fields as researcher designed farmer managed trials. The wheat equivalent yield under the rice–potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)–greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek], rice–potato–vegetable cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] and rice–vegetable pea (Pisum sativum L.)–vegetable Frenchbean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was 135, 124 and 105% higher than the rice–wheat system. The rice–potato–greengram cropping system recorded highest net returns (1,61,928/ha), followed by rice–vegetable pea–vegetable Frenchbean (1,58,192/ha) and rice–potato–vegetable cowpea cropping systems (1,52,415/ha). The highest benefit: cost ratio (1.93) was recorded with the rice–vegetable pea–vegetable Frenchbean cropping system owing to its lower cost of cultivation and higher returns.