Diversification of rice (Oryza sativa) - wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system for sustainable production in eastern Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Faizabad during 2000-05 to find out the feasibility of diversification of tra- ditional rice (Oryza sativa L.) - wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) cropping system. Rice - potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) - greengram [(Phaseolus radiatus (L.) Wilczek)] sequence was found the most efficient for production (18.1 tlhalyear), employment generation (1.18 mandayslhalday), monetary return (Rs 43,180lhal year) and water-use efficiency (20.1 kglhalmm), followed by rice-onion (Alliurn cepa L.). Berseem [(Trifoliurn alexandrinum (L.) Tuslen.] may be taken as a break crop successfully for reducing weed problem (weed-control ef- ficiency 88.7%) in continuous rice-wheat system without any monetary loss. Rice - berseem sequence was also found the most efficient in terms of nitrogen-use efficiency (80.2 kg grainlkg N). Inclusion of potato or onion (veg- etable crops) was found quite stable with stability index of 0.86 and 0.83 respectively. The sequences including greengram or berseem (leguminous crops) improved the availability of NPK and organic C of the soil.