Diversification of traditional rice – wheat system with vegetables for sustainable productivity, profitability and energy efficiency

Abstract

Rice – wheat cropping system is backbone of agriculture and responsible for achieving food security in the country. However, because of threat to sustainability of this system there is urgent need of crop diversification. A field experiment to diversify the rice – wheat system in wet zone of Himachal Pradesh was carried out during the year 2017-18 at Bhadiarkhar research farm, Department of Agronomy, CSK HPKV, Palampur to evaluate productivity, profitability and energy pattern of eight different rice-based cropping systems. Results revealed that rice – palak – cucumber system resulted in significantly higher rice grain equivalent yield (16477 kg/ha), profitability (₹ 848.76/ha/day), productivity (63.62 kg/ha/day), net returns (₹ 219828/ha) and benefit cost ratio than other crop sequences whereas lowest rice grain equivalent yield (6259 kg/ha) and productivity (21.44 kg/ha/day) was recorded from traditional rice – wheat system. However, land utilization ratio and duration were found to be maximum from turmeric – pea – summer squash system (86.85) followed by rice – wheat. Energy utilization was noticed highest from rice – lettuce – potato + coriander system followed by turmeric – pea – summer squash. Maximum energy output (280.42×10³MJ/ha) and energy efficiency (10.58) were observed in rice – palak – cucumber system.