Production potential and economics of different vegetable-based crop sequences

Crop diversification in the form of including different cereal and horticultural crops in the cropping sequence can provide farmers with better incomerealization & profitability, resource use efficiency and productivity. Hence, a field experiment was conducted to diversify and select suitable vegetable based cropping system/sequence in Indo-Gangetic plain of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Adequate intercultural operations, soil amendment and soil treatment along with proper fertilizer management produced higher crop yields. The vegetable yield during rabi season in the system where wheat was replaced byvegetable after rice ranged from 92.35 q/ha (Pea) to 407.1 q/ha (tomato). Rice equivalent yield (REY) in the cropping sequence where two vegetable crops were taken was 177% (Rice-broccoli-cowpea) and 115% (rice-pea-okra) higher than the rice wheat cropping sequence. Under upper midland situation the highest gross return (Rs 463736/ha) was recorded under okra -tomato-cowpea sequence however, the highest net return of Rs 261802 /ha and benefit cost ratio 2.43 was obtained in maize pea-pumpkin cropping sequence. Under low midland situation the highest gross return (Rs 459505/ha) and net returns (Rs 249955/ha) and benefit cost ratio (2.20) was obtained in rice-broccoli-cowpea cropping sequence. Hence, it is suggested and recommended that intensive vegetable-based cropping patterns are suitable for small & medium farmers. Growing of three seasonal vegetables in a year and inclusion of vegetables into the rice-wheat cropping pattern could increase the cropping intensity and productivity and economic returns.