Energy saving and profitability of rice (Oryza sativa) under mechanized and conventional system of rice intensification

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy seasons of 2013 and 2014 at Hyderabad, Telangana, to evaluate the effect of mechanized and conventional system of rice (Oryza sativa L.) intensification. From the 2 years data, significantly higher gross energy output, net energy, energy-use efficiency, energy productivity and energy intensity were recorded with system of rice intensification (SRI) over mechanized system of rice intensification (MSRI). Energy-use efficiency, energy productivity and energy intensity recorded were significantly higher with irrigation at 3 days after disappearance of pounded water (DADPW) and these were at par with saturation treatment. Nitrogen application based on leaf colour chart (LCC) recorded higher gross energy output, net energy, energy-use efficiency, energy productivity and energy intensity in economic terms as compared to other nitrogen management practices. MSRI and SRI performed equally better with respect to benefit: cost ratio. Considerably higher gross and net returns were obtained with SRI as compared to MSRI. The labour saving was 21–25% higher with MSRI than SRI. Irrigation at 3 DADPW recorded significantly higher net returns and benefit: cost ratio, which was comparable with saturation treatment. Gross returns, net returns and benefit-cost ratio, were significantly higher with nitrogen application based on LCC, except soil test crop response based nitrogen application.