Production potential and economic analysis of various cropping systems for Central Plains Zone of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

A field experiment with 9 crop sequences was conducted during 1997-2001 at Kanp\ur: Uttar Pradesh. All these cropping sequences were evaluated for their production potential, calorific value, product~on efficiencies, land-use efficiency and economics. Rice (Oryza sativa L.)-equivalent yield was recorded maximum (1 55.9 qlha) through maize (Zea mays L.)-potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)-wheat (Trificum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) sequential cropping, while high calorific value (46,857 k. cal) and production efficiency (65.96 kglhdday) were with maize-po- tato-sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and highest land-use efficiency (91.2%) was measured with rice-wheat- green manuring cropping systems. Economic ana!ysis revealed that the maximum net profit (Rs 30,617/ha), pro- duction efficiency (1 09.36 Rslhdday) and benefit : cost ratio (1.95) were recorded in rice-wheat crop sequence over other cropping systems. Hence maize-potato-wheat and rice-wheat sequences in the zone remained identi- fied as the most biologically efficient and profitable cropping systems respectively.