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Transforming Triple Cropping System to Four Crops Pattern: an Approach of Enhancing System Productivity Through Intensifying Land Use System in Bangladesh

Md. Aminul Islam
On-Farm Research Division, BARI, Masterpara, Gaibandha, Bangladesh

Md. Jahedul Islam
Regional Wheat Research Center, BARI, Shyampur, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

M. Akkas Ali
On-Farm Research Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

A. S. M. Mahbubur Rahman Khan
On-Farm Research Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Md. Faruque Hossain
On-Farm Research Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

and Md. Moniruzzaman
On-Farm Research Division, BARI, Pabna, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Changing three crops pattern to four crops can play a potential role in achieving countries' food security. With this view to increase crop productivity, production efficiency, land-use efficiency, and economic return through intensifying cropping intensity as well as crop diversity by transforming three crops pattern into four crops, the experiment was conducted in High Ganges River Floodplain Soils under the Agro-Ecological Zone (AEZ) 11 at Pali, Durgapur, under the Multilocation Testing Site, Puthia, Rajshahi, for two consecutive years 2014-15 and 2015-16. Four crops pattern mustard-onion/maize-T. Aman rice was tested at on-farm conditions over the existing three crops pattern mustard-onion-T. Aman rice. Maize was introduced here as a relay crop with onion to fit it in the four crops pattern. &e experiment was laid out in RCB design with six dispersed replications. Two-year crop cycles were completed, and data regarding component crop yield were considered for assessing the performance of the two cropping patterns for making a sense of comparing productivity. Although there was no significant difference in component crop yield between four crops and three crops pattern, as an additional crop, maize tremendously increased the system productivity and economic return of the four crops pattern. Higher rice equivalent yield 28.96 t·ha⁻¹ in 2013-14 and 30.95 t·ha⁻¹ in 2014-15 was recorded from the four crops pattern with a mean rice equivalent yield (REY) of 29.95 t·ha⁻¹ over the existing pattern with a mean value of 21.76 t·ha⁻¹. However, the four crops pattern resulted in higher cultivation cost due to growing maize as an additional crop; nevertheless, it gave the higher gross return, marginal return, marginal benefit-cost ratio, and production efficiency. &e four crops pattern resulted in an average of 37.63% higher production (REY) compared to the existing three crops pattern. Production, as well as land-use efficiency, were increased by 9.33% and 19.18%, respectively, from the intensified alternate pattern.

Keywords: Triple Cropping System, Croping Pattern, System Productivity, Land Use System, Bangladesh

Location: Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Cropping System

Objectives:

The study was undertaken to increase diversification and intensification of existing Mustard-onion T. Aman rice cropping pattern in terms of productivity, production efficiency, land-use efficiency, and economic return

Methodology:

2.1. Site Selection. &e experiment was conducted at the farmers’ field of Pali, Durgapur, under the Multilocation Testing Site (MLT), Shibpur, Puthia, Rajshahi, during 2014-15 to 2015-16 to assess the performance of alternate four crops pattern against existing three crops pattern (mustard-onion-T.Aman rice) in High Ganges River Floodplain soils. Geographically, the experimental field is located at 20°024.49/N latitude and 88°47.20/E longitude with an elevation of 20 m above sea level. &e land was selected based on the discussion with local farmers, DAE personnel, and available secondary information. 2.2. Information Related to AEZ-11. & here is an overall pattern of olive-brown silt loams and silty clay loams on the upper parts of floodplain ridges and dark grey, mottled brown, mainly clay soils on ridge sites and in basins. Most ridge soils are calcareous throughout. General soil types predominantly include calcareous dark grey floodplain soils and calcareous brown floodplain soils. Organic matter content in brown ridge soils is low and higher in dark grey soils. Soils are slightly alkaline in reaction. The general fertility level is low. 2.3. Nutrient Status. &e experimental soil was slightly alkaline (8.4) having low organic matter (1.78%). &e soil contained 0.08% total N (very low), 25.85 ppm available P (optimum), 0.16 me% exchangeable K (low), 15.85 ppm available S (medium), 0.50 ppm available B (high), and 0.20 ppm available Zn (very low). &e rates of the fertilizers for different crops were calculated using soil test values-based (STB) on high yield goal as per Fertilizer Recommendation Guide’ 2012. 2.4. Experimental Procedure. &e experiment was designed with two cropping patterns following randomized complete block design with six dispersed replications. &e unit plot size was 8 m × 4 m. &e treatments were C1: mustard onion/maize-T. Aman rice and C2: mustard-onion-T. Aman rice. &e sources of nutrients were urea for N, TSP for P, MOP for K, gypsum for S, zinc sulfate for Zn, and Boric acid for B. &e details of the varieties used and cultural operations adopted in different crop sequences are given in Table 1. For mustard, half of urea and all other inorganic fertilizers were applied according to individual plots and mixed with soil at the time of final land preparation. &e rest of urea was top-dressed before flowering just one day after first irrigation. In the case of onion, half of the urea and all other inorganic fertilizers were applied to individual plots and mixed with soil at the time of final land preparation. &e rest of the urea was top-dressed 30 days after planting. Maize was planted 70 days after planting of onion. For maize, half of the urea and all other inorganic fertilizers were applied according to the individual plot after harvesting of onion at 6- leaf stage of maize as side-dressing followed by earthing up. &e rest urea was top-dressed at the 10-leaf stage. In the case of T. Aman rice, all the fertilizers except urea were applied as basal. Urea was applied as top-dressing in three equal splits at 15, 30, and 45 days after transplanting. All the crops were harvested at maturity from an area of central 5.0 m². Data on the yield of component crops in sequences were recorded and converted to ton per hectare. Total system productivity was calculated as the summation of individual crop yield of each cropping cycle. &e productivity of different crop sequences was compared by calculating their economic rice equivalent yield (REY) using formula given by Ahlawat and Sharma [10],

Source of Information: International Journal of Agronomy, Volume 2018, Article ID 7149835, 6 pages

Article Link (Online Journal): https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/7149835

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Relaying maize with onion is a simple but effective time space-saving technology for shifting the three crops pattern to four crops (mustard-onion/maize-T. Aman rice). Considering systems REY, LUE, PE, and economic performances of the two-year crop cycle, it is revealed that the four crop pattern is the best option for greater productivity and profitability over the triple cropping system.

Knowledge Management: Journal