Intercropping Sesbania rostrata with wet land rice (Oryza sativa) for seed and fuel

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 1992 and 1993 in Eutric Gleysoi soil of the Barind Tract, Bangladesh, to study the feasibility of growing African dhaincha (Sesbania rostrata Brem. & Oberrn) for seed and fuel as intercrop with wet land rice (Oryza sativa L.). Dhaincha seedlings transplanted at 2 m x 2 m spacing in rice gave the highest rice equivalentyield in both the years. The same treatment also gave the highest gross returns, net returns, and benefit :cost ratio. The feasibility of growing S. rostrata as an intercrop with wetland ice proved and seeds produced in 1 ha of land was sufficient for green manuring in 2 ha. Key words : - Sesbania rostrata rice intercropping, Seed, Fuel , Green-manuring (GM) with Sesbania ing Systems Research and Development before wet land rice is one of the approaches (FSRD) site, Saroil, Rajshahi, during wet sea- well accepted by the f m e r s of the area. How- sons of 1992 and 1993.- The soil of the ex- ever, S, rostrata proved superior to S. aculeata perimental plot was silt loam in texture hav- (Rinaudo et a]., 1987; Roger and Watanabe, ing pH 6.4. The experiment was laid out in 1986). Scarcity of seed is the main limiting randomized complete-block design with 4 factor for quick expansion of Sesbania green- dispersed replications and the unit plot size mamiring. There is a little scope of growing was 12 m x 12 m. The modern rice variety Sesbania as sole crop for seed and fuelas most BR 1 1 and African dhaincha were used as of the land engaged for wet land rice cultiva- test crops. Five treatments used in the experi- tion and due to the problem of animal darn- ment were, viz. T,, sole wet land rice; T,, sole age as goat and cattle like it. Considering the African dhaincha (seedlings) at a spacing of above situation an attempt made to grow Af- 50 cm x 50 cm; T,, rice + African dhaincha rican dhaincha as an intercrop with wet land (seedlings) at a spacing of 2 m x 2 m, T,, rice , + African dhaincha (stem cutting) at a spac- rice for seed and fuel to reduce the scarcity of seed for green-manuring and fuel. ing of 2 m x 2 m and T,, rice + Afrian