Productivity, profitability and sustainability of rice-(capsicum+peas) and rice-wheat cropping systems in sub-tropical South-Western Punjab

Mansa district is semi-arid sub-tropical irrigated region of south-western Punjab (India), inter-cropping of peas (Pisum sativum L.) in capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) during winter season has been gaining ground as more remunerative practice. Inter-cropping is practiced in rotation with rice, constituting rice-(capsicum+peas) cropping, parallel to traditional rice-wheat cropping system. The present study was therefore, conducted at eight different farmers” field locations for comparative assessment of the productivity, profitability and sustainability of two cropping systems. An average capsicum yield of 200 q ha^-1 was recorded in 6 pickings, ~75 per cent of which was harvested in the first four pickings. In general, capsicum yield increased during first four picking followed by a decline in subsequent fifth and sixth picking. An average 53.8 q ha^-1 green pod yield of peas harvested in two pickings indicated that ~ 64 per cent yield was achieved in the first picking. Economic yield of rice-(capsicum+peas) cropping was ~2.8-times higher compared with traditional rice-wheat cropping system. Although, an average cost of cash inputs (ACCI) for wheat crop were lower by 1.5-times, but average gross returns (AGR) and average net returns (ANR) from capsicum+peas were higher by ~3-times and 2-times, respectively. Relative economic efficiency (REE) of rice-(capsicum+peas) was 144 per cent over REE of rice-wheat cropping system. Sustainable yield index (SYI) was higher for rice and wheat, compared with peas and capsicum owing to small variation in yield potential of rice and wheat at different locations, compared with peas and capsicum.