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Multiple Cropping for Sustainable and Exaggerated Agricultural Production System

M. Sazzad Hossain
Dept.of Agronomy and Haor Agriculture, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100

Md. Abdul Kader
Dept. of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

Najrul Islam
Dept. of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Multiple cropping is a farming practice involving two or more crop species or genotypes growing together and coexisting for a certain period. It is getting importance as farmers intensifying land use to remain competitive and provide the increasing world demand for different crop originated products and in many subsistence or low-input/resource-limited agricultural systems on the fringes of modern intensive agriculture. By providing actual yield gains without increased inputs, or greater stability of yield with decreased inputs, multiple cropping becomes one unique route to delivering sustainable intensification. Innovations by agricultural scientists in pesticides, no-till instrumentation, rotation of legumes and grasses for tap-rooted and fibrous -rooted crops, and breeding crops tailored to specific systems and environments create intensified multiple cropping farming more successful. With this connection, the experiment was carried out to study effect of intercropping combinations (rice with four different vegetables) on land use efficiency using the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) and total return per unit area based on benefit-cost ratio (BCR). Intercropping combinations had significant effect on LER and BCR for total return. Result showed that the lowest cost of production was found in sole rice under monoculture compared to all other cases of polyculture. But sole rice cultivation under monoculture is less profitable than the production of vegetable-rice intercropping. Vegetable cultivation along with rice crop is remunerative in both yield and economical point of view.

Keywords: Benefit-cost ratio, Land equivalent ratio, Multiple cropping, Rice, Vegetable, Yield.

Location: Agronomy research farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University

Start Date: 00-00-2008

End Date:

Program Area: Farming System

Non-commodity: Intercropping

Objectives:

The aim of the research on rice cum vegetable intercropping is to assess the suitability and profitability of multiple cropping best fitted to the resource poor farmer of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The experiment was carried out at the Agronomy research farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University during the year 2008. The main intercropping crop species are rice (Oryza sativa) variety Surjamoni combined with four different types of vegetable crops like yard long bean (Vigna unguiculata), snake gourd (Trichosanthes anguina), white gourd (Benincasa hispida) and bottle gourd (Lagenaria vulgaris) were used as plant materials. Rice seedlings were raised in seedbed and transplanted to the main field following standard line sowing method. Seedlings of vegetables were raised in polybag and in seedbed which was prepared on the levee in between two trellises. The media was prepared mixing organic manure and compost with field soil. Healthy seeds of yard long bean, snake gourd, white gourd and bottle gourd were sown in the prepared media in polybag. The polybags were kept in a sunny and dry place. Proper water and pest management practices were done to raise good seedlings. Thirty-day-old seedlings of snake gourd, white gourd and bottle gourd and fifteen-day-old seedlings of yard long bean were transplanted. The seedlings of these vegetables were planted on the levee of rice plots and allowed to grow on trellis (bamboo made scaffold and branches of jujube) during the whole growth period, afterwards.Five different types of crop combinations, T₀ =Rice only, T1= Yard long + rice, T2= Snake gourd + rice, T3= White gourd + rice and T4= Bottle gourd + rice were used as treatments. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) having three replications. There were 49 unit plots of same size (3 x 6 m²) where Plot to plot and block to block distances were 75 cm and 100 cm, respectively. The experimental plots were fertilized with 270, 150, 120, 110 and 15 kg ha^-1 of urea, triple superphosphate, muriate of potash, gypsum and zinc sulphate, respectively. The amount of fertilizers for four types of plot was calculated and the entire amount of triple superphosphate, muriate of potash,gypsum and zinc sulphate was applied during final land preparation as basal application. One-third of urea was top dressed at 15 days after transplanting (DAT) and the rest of urea was top dressed in two equal splits at 45 and 55 DAT. For vegetables, fertilization of the levee soil was done with cowdung, urea, triple superphosphate and muriate of potash @ 10 kg, 100 g, 120 g and 100 g, respectively. Cowdung, TSP and MP were mixed with soil at the time of ail preparation. Urea was applied in ring form at a certain distance from the base of the vegetables seedlings about 15 DAT. The plots were hand weeded in different vegetative stages. Each plot was harvested individually to estimate grain and biological yield. Total cost and returns were calculated to find out the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) and Land Equivalency Ratio (LER). Data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance technique appropriate for randomize complete block design with plant densities split on planting dates and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (Gomez and Gomez, 1984). (p<0.05) was employed for mean separation when F-values were significant. In case of vegetables, yield data was collected then converted to rice equivalent yield and finally subjected for economic analysis.

Source of Information: J. Biosci. Agric. Res. 14(02): 1202-1209

Article Link (Online Journal): https://doi.org/10.18801/jbar.140217.148

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Multiple cropping systems clearly have the potential to increase the long-term sustainability of food production under low inputs in many parts of the world. A better exchange of information among ecologists, environmental scientists, agronomists, crop scientists, soil scientists and ultimately social scientists (e.g. exploring attitudes to uptake, and developing wider cost/benefit analyses) is prerequisite, so that the full potential of intercropping as a sustainable farming system can be realized. Consequently, the results of the present study revealed that, vegetable cultivation along with rice crop is remunerative in both yield and economical point of view. Sole rice cultivation is less profitable than the production of vegetable crops in the levee along with rice.

Knowledge Management: Journal