M M Kamrozzaman
Senior Scientific Officer
OFRD, BARI, Kushtia
Mustard-Boro-T.Aman cropping pattern was tested under irrigated medium highland condition at the Gangni MLT site, Meherpur during 2001-02, 2003-04. The pattern performed well both agronomically and economically by including a short duration rice variety(BR-39),in T.Aman season and with high yielding variety BR-28 in Boro season and a short duration mustard variety (BARI sharisha-9). Mustard could be successfully grown in rabi season between the crop T.Aman & boro rice. The pattern was economically viable due to higher BCR (2.18).
cropping pattern, agronomic manipulation
Gagni, Meherpur
To the existing pattern with improved pattern at Gagni site
The farmers of the Gangni MLT site, Meherpur used to follow Boro-T.Aman cropping pattern in the medium highland situation under irrigated condition. They could not grow rabi crops because of higher field duration of BR11. Mustard were tested last years after T.Aman rice (MV). Farmers were interested to grow BR11 in aman season for its higher yield but its field duration was high, BRRI recently developed one variety (BRRI dhan 39) which was early maturing by 98 days. & BARI recently developed one Mustard variety (BARI sarisha-9) which was also early maturing (85) and high yielding variety compare to the existing pattern with improved pattern at Gagni site.
The cropping pattern Mustard-Boro-T.Aman was tested with an area of 490 sq.m replicated in three plots across the farmers field under same land type. Data on agronomic practice, human labour cost, animal power cost, input cost were recorded from the experimental plots and farmers plots also evaluated.
Annual Research Report, 2003-04. Published by OFRD, BARI
Agronomic: Farmers of Gangni MLT site Meherpur follow traditional cultivation practices with low yielding variety (IR-50 for Boro & BR11 for T.Aman) and do not apply balanced fertilizers such as Zinc & Boron in their field. As results the yields were low. In improved pattern 10-14% higher grain yield of Boro(BRRI dhan 28) was achieved by applying recommended rate of 110-55-45-30-4 kg N-P2O5-K2O-S Zn/ha and by used modern variety. On an average, Boro (BRRI dhan 28) and T.Aman (BRRI dhan 39) required 95 days and 102 days respectively. On the other hand, IR-50 and BR-11 required 107 & 123 days respectively for field duration. So, short duration variety Mustard BARI Sarisha 9 (87 days) easily grown successfully between the crop T.Aman & Boro. Turn around time between Mustard-Boro, Boro-T.Aman and T.Aman-Mustard were 14, 63 & 5 days which was indicated the crops could be grown without disturbing the following crops.
Economic and return analysis: The gross benefit, total variable cost gross margin and BCR of the improved patterns were higher than the farmers pattern. On an average, the gross benefit of farmers pattern (IR50 and BR11) were Tk. 69043/ha and that of improved pattern Boro (BRRI dhan 28)-T.Aman (BRRI dhan 39) – Mustard (BARI Sarisha-9) were Tk. 107210. Gross benefit, gross margin & benefit cost ratio (2.17) of the improved pattern were higher than farmers’ pattern. From the economic point of view, it is clear that improved cropping pattern was more economically profitable and higher remunerative than that of farmers existing pattern.
Report/Proceedings